Jade Popoola Leads Nigeria's First Female Netball Team

Jade Popoola, a former England U-21 player, has been named the first captain of Nigeria’s female netball team, the Green Hawks. They are getting ready for the 2026 Africa Netball Cup and the 2027 Netball World Cup Africa regional qualifiers, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.

The Nigeria Netball Federation announced this on Sunday.

“Introducing Jade Popoola, captain of Nigeria’s first National Netball Team as we prepare to make history in Nairobi,” the federation shared on Instagram.

“A huge responsibility. An even bigger honour. Leading a new generation of Nigerian netballers as we begin our journey on the road to Sydney 2027.”

At just 22 years old, Popoola graduated from the University of Cambridge, where she studied Human, Social and Political Sciences.

She shone in high school at Surbiton High and joined the England Roses Academy when she was 17. She later became the vice-captain for England U-21 at Netball Europe in 2023, winning a gold medal.

Popoola also gained experience in the Netball Super League with London Pulse and Loughborough Lightning.

She will lead the team to Nairobi, Kenya. They will compete at the Africa Netball Cup from September 19 to 26 for a chance to qualify for the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney.

The Nigerian team is set to arrive in Nairobi on September 18, just a day before the competition starts. They have been preparing with training in London and gaining valuable international exposure.

Nigeria is in Pool 2 with Uganda, Malawi, Zambia, and hosts Kenya. Pool 1 includes South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana, and Tanzania.

The Green Hawks will kick off their campaign against Kenya on September 19. They will play Uganda the next day, then face Malawi on September 21 and Zambia on September 22.

The Nigerian team has been training in London with 11 other players under coach Alison Akinrinsola. She believes their preparations, including international matches against Jamaica, Pakistan, and Scotland, have made the squad stronger for the challenge in Nairobi.

“We have seen where we are, we know the areas we need to improve, and we are working hard to get better,” Akinrinsola said.

“We are not going there just to participate. We are going there to compete and fight for Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, NNF president Toyin Aluko feels that the Green Hawks’ formation is a big step in the federation’s plan to bring Nigerian netball back to the international scene.

“Our ambition is to make Nigeria competitive internationally, and this team represents an important part of that journey. We believe in the players and technical crew, and we want them to go to Nairobi and make Nigeria proud,” Aluko said.