Sports Minister, Enoh, to Receive Cricket World Cup Trophy in Abuja

President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF, Uyi Akpata, has confirmed that Nigeria’s new Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh, has pledged his full support to the Federation on their two-day hosting of the Cricket World Cup trophy in the country.

According to Akpata; “ the Minister has in his short stay in office accepted NCF’s desire to play host to the World Cup. He has embraced it, and also pledged magnanimous support for the event.”

The Cricket World Cup is on a tour of three African countries namely, Uganda, Nigeria, and South Africa, ahead of the ODI World Cup scheduled to kick off in India later in October. 

The World Cup trophy is due to arrive Abuja, Nigeria on Tuesday (today), August 29th, 2023.

“There are expectations from the International Cricket Community on the growing influence of the game in the country, and that puts Nigeria squarely as a major cricket developing nation today.”

Uyi said that aside from the game, the trophy tour of Nigeria will afford the stakeholders a closer interaction with the top hierarchy of the International Cricket Council who are part of the tour on issues around the game. 

The NCF President said it would also be an opportunity to show off the diverse cultural expressions that the country is blessed with.

“Of course, the Minister as the chief host, will receive the World Cup trophy and will also be engaging the ICC officials during the process. We plan to give a unique Nigerian welcome to the trophy and the team of ICC officials that would be coming along.”

The trophy will tour a few landmarks in Abuja before settling for public viewing at the Indoor Sports Hall of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in  the Federal capital city.

The trophy will leave for Lagos on Wednesday, August 30th, where a reception has been planned by the Lagos cricket community at the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval. The Nigeria Cricket Federation has also been informed that the Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu will also receive the Cricket World Cup trophy along with other cricket stakeholders during the period.