Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) - NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA

Muhyideen Jimoh
Nov, Fri, 2024

Sports

Cricket: World Cup qualifier will showcase Nigeria’s talent, facilities, Akpata says

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By Ijeoma Okigbo

Uyi Akpata, president of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), said the upcoming 2025 T20 World Cup Sub-Regional African Qualifier C in Abuja, will test Nigeria’s facilities as well as cricket prowess.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja, Akpata said that preparations are in top gear to welcome five other countries for the tournament from Nov. 23 to Nov. 28.

“There is no doubt that we are making some advancement in talent development. We are at a point where we need to build competences across different facets of the game.

“Nigeria cricket has been making a bit of buzz globally and attention will be on us, during the event.

“ I think it is a good thing and I believe it is an opportunity to show the world our brand of Cricket and some bits of what makes us Nigeria”, Akpata noted.

Meanwhile, three players from Nigerian Men’s Senior team, Isaac Okpe, Chiemelie Udekwe, and Isaac Danladi who featured in the just concluded Zimbabwean National Cricket League are back to boost the squad.

“We believe we stand a good chance of qualifying to the next stage but our focus is also on delivering beautiful memories to our visitors as well as cricket fans at home and abroad watching the event,” Akpata added.

NAN reports that Nigeria will be joined by Botswana, Côte D’Ivoire, Eswatini, St. Helena, and Sierra Leone for a week-long cricket action that will produce two finalists to the next stage of the World Cup Qualifier. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joseph Edeh

Muhyideen Jimoh
Oct, Tue, 2024

Sports

Cricket: Edo wins National Women’s championship

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By Ijeoma Okigbo

Edo women’s cricket team has won the fourth edition of the National Women’s Championship.

The tournament organised by the team Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) saw Edo beat Akwa Ibom by 89 runs finish unbeaten and clinch victory on Sunday.

Akwa Ibom had won the toss and elected to field but the Edo batting prowess couldn’t be contained.

Opening batter Victory Igbinedion dominated the scoring chart with 40 from 54 balls with Piety Lucky contributing 36 from 23 balls before a hit wicket dismissal saw her off to the stands.

Teammate Anointed Akhigbe also added 12 from 18 balls helping the Benin side reach 128 runs in the first innings.

The second innings was a light walk for the inspired Edo team which saw off all of Akwa Ibom batters in 12 overs with a paltry 39 runs to show.

Uyi Akpata, President of the Federation said that the 2024 Championship has confirmed what concerted effort in the growing women sports can produce.

“It’s been seven days of quality cricket and showcase of cricket skills by girls from all the six geo-political zones of the country.

“We had Gombe, Kaduna, Kogi, Ekiti, Lagos, Anambra, Akwa Ibom and Edo and it has been nothing short of excellent display from all sides.

“I am proud of the teams that took part in the tournament and can only hope that we continue to grow women’s cricket,” he said.

Favour Eseigbe, Edo captain said that she was proud of the team’s achievement as all members gave their best for them to emerge champions.

Peace Usen, the player of the match of the encounter took five wickets in four overs conceding on six runs and one maiden.

The finals of the NCF Womens’s Championship started on Tuesday and ended on Sunday in Abuja. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joseph Edeh

Muhyideen Jimoh
Oct, Wed, 2024

Sports

Cricket: 300 girls expected at Women’s Criio festival

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By Ijeoma Okigbo

No fewer than 300 girls are expected to feature in the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) Women’s Criio festival billed for Friday in Abuja.

Ehis Uadiale, NCF coordinator for the event, said the festival which is sanctioned by the International Cricket Council (ICC) is aimed at promoting the game across the female folk.

Uadiale, who stated this at a news conference ahead of the National Women’s Championship, said Nigeria and Tanzania were the only African countries selected to pilot the programme.

“In 2023, the NCF was awarded the Best Female Initiative Programme by the ICC and it was from efforts to introduce the sport to over 25,000 girls in Zamfara.

“Following the National women’s team success at the African Games in Ghana and the women’s qualification to the U19 World Cup in Malaysia, ICC also found Nigeria worthy to pilot the criio programme.

“Criio is a concept by ICC. It is a modified way of playing cricket out of the usual hardball cricket. Criio means you can play cricket anywhere, even in your living room.

“With the aim of spreading the game to the female folk, Nigeria and Tanzania were selected among countries in Africa to pilot the programme,’’ Uadiale said.

The NCF official also added that the festival would be replicated in other parts of the country with the aim of creating more awareness of the game.

“We are looking at infusing the criio festival with the ongoing Women’s championship since it is about women.

“We are inviting schools with over 300 girls expected to participate, even representatives of the ICC will be present at the event. It is going to be fun, exciting and worth the time.

“We are also going to replicate this in other parts of the country but we are using Abuja to launch the programme.

“For us, this is a pat on the back from ICC, because we have raised the bar high in terms of grassroots development, especially for women’s cricket and we only hope to keep improving,’’ he said.

On her part, Adaora Sdyney-Jack, the brand ambassador for women’s cricket, said the success of the women’s game has ushered in more partners for the federation.

“Nigeria is seen as a priority country by the ICC and this is due to the success of the women’s game but then we have filled in the gaps that borders around the right partnership, welfare and intervention for the female players.

“We have had a lot of inroads and calls from partners and by January 2025 we are looking at three new major partners.

“I don’t want to let the cat out of the bag, but they are very huge.

“Some of them will be attending the criio festival but the priorities are not just for the criio festival or the Women’s championship but also for the U19 World Cup in 2025,’’ Sdyney-Jack added.

On his part, Sani Mohammed, the Secretary General, of the federation welcomed all participating teams to the women’s championship, admonishing them on the rules of fair play.

Teams Anambra, Edo, Kogi, Gombe, Akwa Ibom, Lagos, Ekiti and Kaduna are participating in the tournament expected to end on Sunday at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Joseph Edeh