The new head coach of Nigeria’s national men’s cricket team and High Performance Manager of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), Stephen Mangongo, has invited 35 players to a 14-day training camp ahead of the 2026 Namibia Tri-Series.

Mangongo, who was officially unveiled last Wednesday on a three-year contract, will lead the Yellow Greens for the first time in an international assignment scheduled for June 18 to 29 in Windhoek, Namibia.

The Zimbabwean coach will work alongside a technical crew that includes former Female Yellow Greens head coach Leke Oyede and fitness trainer Seye Olympio as preparations intensify for the tournament at the FNB Namibia Cricket Ground.

The 35-man squad was selected from the recently concluded Nigeria Super League, blending experienced players with emerging talents in what is seen as a transitional team-building phase.

Key regulars in the squad include captain Sylvester Okpe, Isaac Danladi, Sulaimon Runsewe, Kenneth Boniface, Prosper Useni, Ridwan Kareem, Rahmon Ali, Peter Aho, Saturday Elijah, and several others who have featured prominently in recent national assignments.

The group of new invitees includes promising domestic performers such as Chima Akachukwu, Eghosa Aghedo, Elochukwu Ndubudem, Eweka Ogbemudia, Gideon Durotoye, Ifeanyi Uboh, and Ismail Abdullahi, all rewarded for strong performances in the Super League.

The squad is expected to be reduced to 16 players before the tournament begins, where Nigeria will compete in T20 Internationals against Namibia and Hong Kong, China, before facing the hosts in a three-match One-Day International series.

The Tri-Series is seen as an important opportunity for Nigeria to test depth, build consistency, and strengthen its competitiveness on the international cricket stage under its new coaching leadership.

Four Nigerian wrestlers have arrived in Mongolia ahead of the 2026 World Wrestling 3rd Ranking Series, as the Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF) intensifies efforts to improve the country’s global standing in the sport.

The contingent departed Nigeria on Monday night aboard Turkish Airlines for the competition, which is expected to attract top wrestling nations competing for crucial ranking points ahead of major international championships.

The athletes include Genesis Mercy Miesinnei (50kg), Ogunsanya Christianah Tolulope (53kg), Kolawole Esther Omolayo (62kg), and Ojo Damola Hannah (76kg), all of whom will represent Nigeria in their respective weight categories.

The team is being led by women’s wrestling coach and NWF Technical Committee Chairman, Akuh Purity, who commended the federation’s leadership for ensuring smooth logistics and full support for the athletes’ participation.

He expressed appreciation to the President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, for what he described as consistent commitment to athlete welfare and international competition exposure.

According to him, the wrestlers are in Mongolia primarily to secure ranking points that will improve their global standings and enhance their seedings ahead of upcoming World Championships.

Nigeria’s participation in the ranking series is part of a broader strategy to strengthen its competitiveness in women’s wrestling and maintain consistent presence on the international stage.

The federation hopes the athletes will build on recent progress and deliver strong performances against elite global opponents in the tournament.

Iran’s national football team is expected to arrive in Mexico on Sunday, where it will be based throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup, according to a statement from the team.

The squad will depart Antalya, Turkey, at 15:20 (1220 GMT) on Saturday, June 6, and is scheduled to land in Tijuana at 1:30 a.m. (0730 GMT) on Sunday, June 7.

The team has been holding a training camp in Antalya since May 18 as part of final preparations for the global tournament, which runs from June 11 to July 19 and is jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Iran’s national team, also known as Team Melli, is drawn in Group G and will play its matches against New Zealand and Belgium in Los Angeles on June 15 and 21, followed by a fixture against Egypt in Seattle on June 26.

The squad is still awaiting United States visa clearance, with uncertainty surrounding travel arrangements linked to diplomatic tensions and administrative delays. Team officials had earlier indicated that visas for Mexico were expected to be issued before departure, with US visas to follow shortly after.

Iranian football federation president Mehdi Taj said the team would likely transit through Spain before arriving in North America.

Due to ongoing visa complications, Iran has shifted its World Cup base from Tucson, Arizona, to Tijuana in northern Mexico.

Ahead of their departure, the team is expected to play a final friendly match against Mali in Antalya after securing a 3–1 victory over Gambia on May 29.

The 2026 World Cup will mark Iran’s continued participation on the global stage as they seek to advance beyond the group phase in a tournament co-hosted across North America.