Former Zimbabwe cricket coach Stephen Mangongo has been appointed head coach and high-performance manager of the Nigeria national cricket team, a significant move by the Nigeria Cricket Federation as it seeks to strengthen the country's growing presence in African cricket.
Announcing the appointment, the Nigeria Cricket Federation said:
"The Nigeria Cricket Federation is proud to unveil Stephen Maziva Mangongo as the new Head Coach and High Performance Manager."
The federation described Mangongo as "a vastly experienced cricket leader with nearly three decades of coaching excellence," adding that he brings "a wealth of international experience, strategic leadership and a proven track record in player development to Nigerian cricket."
Mangongo, one of Zimbabwe's most respected cricket coaches, replaces former Kenyan international Steve Tikolo, who left the role earlier this year after a successful tenure with the Yellow Greens.
His appointment comes at a crucial time for Nigerian cricket as the country prepares for upcoming International Cricket Council competitions, including qualifiers for the 2028 ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
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The Zimbabwean has built a strong reputation across African cricket through his extensive work in player development and national team coaching structures. During his career, Mangongo coached Zimbabwe's Under-15 and Under-19 teams, the Zimbabwe A side and later the senior national team. He also served as a high-performance coach for Zimbabwe Cricket, helping develop some of the country's most successful players.
Among the notable cricketers who progressed under his guidance are former Zimbabwe captain Tatenda Taibu and Hamilton Masakadza, who became the youngest Zimbabwean to score a Test century on debut.
Mangongo's contribution to Zimbabwean cricket has been widely recognised for producing technically skilled and mentally resilient players capable of competing at the highest level.
One of the standout moments of his coaching career came in 2014 when he guided Zimbabwe to a memorable One Day International victory over Australia during a triangular series in Harare, a result that remains one of Zimbabwe cricket's most celebrated achievements in the modern era.
He has also been part of several ICC global tournaments, including multiple ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cups and ICC Men's Cricket World Cups as a member of Zimbabwe's technical team.
With his wealth of experience in coaching, talent development and high-performance management, Mangongo is expected to play a key role in Nigeria's ambitions to establish itself as one of Africa's emerging cricket powers.
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