The Nigeria Cricket Federation is optimistic that the national U-19 teams, both boys and girls, will secure their World Cup tickets as they commence their qualifiers on July 31st and August 19th respectively.
General Manager of the federation, Emeka Igwilo, announced that the boys’ team is set to compete in Tanzania this week, aiming to secure one of the two available spots in the U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup, African Qualifier Division 2.
“Our performance at this stage in 2019 earned us our first World Cup ticket, putting us in the spotlight since then. We are relying on the experience of the coaching staff and their hard work to advance to the next stage,” Igwilo stated.
The federation has re-appointed Daniel Gim as the coach of the men’s U-19 team, hoping his experience will lead the team to success. “The team has been in camp for weeks, and we hope this preparation will benefit them in the tournament running from July 31 to August 14 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania,” Igwilo added.
Meanwhile, the U-19 women’s team, which includes about eight members of the national female team, will participate in a one-level World Cup Qualifier in Kigali, Rwanda, from August 19 to 31. Igwilo mentioned that a new technical team is handling the female players. He believes that the inclusion of experienced players, who helped Nigeria secure a bronze medal at the African Games in Accra, Ghana, raises hopes for a strong performance in the tournament.
“These youngsters represent the future of cricket in Nigeria. The board prioritizes grassroots engagement across the country, and we understand that investing in developmental activities, along with facility development and continuous upskilling of our staff, is essential for progress.”
The Senior Men’s national team recently concluded a bilateral series with Kenya, featuring five T20 games and two 50-over matches. They lost the T20 series 3-2 and were defeated in both 50-over encounters.
“The Nigerian teams have been busy preparing for upcoming challenges. We are learning valuable lessons and making necessary adjustments,” Igwilo said. The Senior Men’s national team is scheduled to participate in a Division 2 World Cup Qualifier, to be hosted in Nigeria later in November.
