By Vivian Ahanmisi
Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) president, Uyi Akpata, has hailed the historic arrival of South Africa and Zimbabwe for the Women’s Invitational WT20i in Lagos.
The tournament began on Thursday with arrival of participants and will run until March 29 at Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval, with the opening match scheduled for Friday.
Akpata, during a media briefing in Lagos, said the first-ever visit by both nations marked a milestone for African cricket growth, reflecting years of strategic development and collaboration.
“I’m excited, super excited, but it’s been years of hard work,” he said.
He attributed the breakthrough to Nigeria’s stronger integration within Africa’s cricket structure and improved relationships with fellow member nations.
“What we’ve established is deeper integration into the African set-up, strengthening bonds between member nations,” he said.
Akpata added that Nigeria’s recent performances in women’s cricket helped attract top African teams to the competition.
The tournament trophy has been renamed in honour of Patricia Kambarami, known as ‘Mama Africa’, for her contributions to women’s cricket.
“Everybody knows the passion Patricia showed for African cricket, particularly female cricket,” he said.
He noted her strong ties with Nigeria, Rwanda, Zimbabwe and South Africa, describing the moment as symbolic of her enduring legacy.
“It’s as if the stars are aligned. Countries she bonded with are making this historical impact,” Akpata said.
He stressed the need for sustained investment in women’s cricket to bridge the gap between development and elite competition.
“If we invest in girls and host tournaments like this, we can close the gap between development and elite levels,” he said.
Nigeria captain Lucky Piety dismissed fears of intimidation against higher-ranked teams, expressing confidence in her squad’s preparation.
“There is no inferiority complex. We have trained well and believe we are ready,” she said.
She added that hosting top teams offers a valuable test of Nigeria’s readiness on the international stage.
“For me, there is no pressure. This is home and that gives me confidence,” Piety said.
South Africa captain, Mieke Van Voorst, said her side did not see itself as superior in spite of its ranking.
“We are building a competitive brand from Under-19 level and see ourselves as underdogs,” she said.
She noted the tournament formed part of preparations for the ICC Under-19 Women’s World Cup in 2027.
“We want to push ourselves. This helps measure growth and identify areas for improvement,” she added.
Zimbabwe captain, Buhlebentosi Maposa, described the event as crucial for exposure and development.
“This tournament offers experience in a strong cricket environment and raises standards for everyone,” she said.
Nigeria coach, Theophilus Ibodeme, said the team would adopt a match-by-match approach.
“We will keep things simple. Each game has targets, and we will approach them accordingly,” he said.
He added that facing new opponents presents a valuable learning curve for all participating teams.
“We are here to learn from one another, compete and grow cricket across Africa,” Ibodeme said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Kamal Tayo Oropo
