Nigeria Prepare to Host Men’s Sub-regional Cricket WCQ

Nigeria’s Men’s Cricket team will begin their journey to the 2025 T-20 World Cup on home soil. They will host five other African countries in the Sub-Regional African Qualifier C, which will run from November 23rd to 28th, 2024, in Abuja.

Nigeria will be joined by Botswana, Cote d’Ivoire, Eswatini, St. Helena, and Sierra Leone for a weeklong cricket action that will produce two finalists to the next stage of the World Cup Qualifier.

The twin Oval at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium will host the 15 scheduled matches of the encounter.

The President  of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, Uyi Akpata, said that the World Cup Qualifier will test Nigeria’s facilities and stretch the Federation’s personnel and event management competences.

“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. Hosting the Qualifiers allows us to show our visitors a different side of Nigeria through the game,” observed the NCF President.

Akpata added that the twin ovals in Abuja will be the centre of attention for global cricket during the seven-day event.

“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 our opportunity to show the world our brand of cricket and some bits of what makes us Nigeria,” enthused Akpata.

The Nigerian Men’s Cricket team is ranked 36th in the T-20 global ranking ahead of any of the teams vying for the sub-regional honour, but the team is leaving no stone unturned in their preparations for the event.

Three of the national team players, Isaac Okpe, Chiemelie Udekwe, and Isaac Danladi featured in the just concluded Zimbabwean National Cricket League and have since returned to the country to beef up the team’s camp for the qualifiers.

According to Akpata; “While we believe we stand a good chance of qualifying to the next stage, our focus is also on delivering beautiful memories for our visitors, cricket fans at home, and abroad; watching the event,” he concluded.