The Junior Yellow-Greens of Nigeria will begin their quest for a spot in the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka 2024 today with an encounter with Sierra Leone at the University of Dar-es-Salaam (UDSM) Cricket Oval in Tanzania.
The eight-day event, which bowled off yesterday with a rain-washed doubleheader between host Tanzania and Kenya on one hand and Namibia versus Uganda, in the second clash, meant that weather could be a factor in deciding the series.
Nigeria’s gaffer, former national-team player, Daniel Gim, said his squad is in good shape and looks forward to making the best of the talents available.
“Mental preparation and game awareness are things we have been focusing on. Our bowling is our trump card. It should take us over the line with the trio of Prosper Useni, captain Ridwan Abdulkareem and Chiemelie Udekwe at the front.
“In a round-robin event, everyone is our rival, and we will tackle them as they come,” he stressed with confidence yesterday.
Only one World Cup ticket is at stake for the six participating countries in Dar-es-Salaam. The teams include: Nigeria, Kenya, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and host Tanzania.
President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, Uyi Akpata, is excited that the Nigerian team is a product of grassroots campaigns and unrelenting commitment from stakeholders to grow the game in the country.
“On the continents now, our efforts are being recognised, as more of our players are matching-up with the best. We have, on several occasions, rattled the existing powerhouses of the game and hence every team here is very wary of Nigeria.
“On our part, we have presented a team that is solely homegrown, and a reflection of our best talents at the age category. We are more than confident we would be well-represented,” the NCF President enthused with confidence.
Nigeria’s team, as part of their preparation, had a two-week drill at one of the best cricket facilities in India in May.
And, ahead of the games in Tanzania took on a select Rwandan side in Kigali in a three-way ODI tune-up game where they won two and lost one
Nigeria had qualified for the finals of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka 2024 through a Division-2 Qualifier that was hosted in Abuja in October 2022. Kenya and Sierra Leone also picked their slots from that Abuja event.
