Defending champion of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) Women’s T20 Invitational Tournament, Nigeria’s Senior Female team began their title defence with a 54-run win over Sierra Leonian Women’s team on Sunday, at the Tafawa Balewa cricket oval in Lagos.
Nigeria had elected to bat after winning the toss, and set a 137 run (for the loss of two wickets) hurdle for the Sierra Leonian side in their innings. Favour Eseigbe, contributed 44 runs from 48 balls, while Peculiar Agboya and Esther Sandy left 33 and 30 balls apiece in the inning.
In the second inning, Ann-Marie Monica Kamara and Janet Kowa pulled in 22 and 21 runs respectively in a bid to chase the score rampart Nigerian side before eventually capitulating, with eight wickets down.
President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, Uyi Akpata, said that the event is part of the numerous avenues that the NCF has designed to promote the game, and it is pleasing to see rising international interest around the tournament.
“The Nigeria Cricket Federation Women T20 Invitational Tournament has been on the rise, and the quality of games have helped Nigeria gain prominence as we now rank 29th in the world, down from the 38th that we occupied as recently as 2021.”
According to him, the win over Sierra Leone on Sunday also speaks to the level of investment and work that the board and technical team have put into the team and developmental efforts.
“Nigeria has practically ridden on the performances and exposures that events like this have provided to become a force in female cricket on the continent,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Rwanda brushed aside the threat of a higher ranking Tanzania to hold them to a 33-run win.
With a batting effort of Uwase Merveille (33 runs), and the bowling prowess of Ishimwe Henriette and Irera Rosine (three wickets each), Rwanda checked Tanzania’s potential for overturning their first inning’s 119 runs, by leaving them at 86 all out.
Zambia’s Copper Queens put behind them the harrowing experience of watching a team mate die in camp, to shock Ghana’s Black Queens 1-0 in West Africa, and have the strength, stamina and motivation to hold their own against the visitors in Ndola on Monday.
Tunisia’s senior girls have a mountain to climb in Rabat, when they confront fast-improving and highly-motivated Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses who beat them 2-1 in front of their own fans on Friday.
The winner on aggregate will be eligible to square up to the winner between Zambia and Ghana.
Only two tickets are available for Africa in the 16-nation Women’s Olympic Football Tournament.
For the Nigeria/Cameroon clash in Abuja, which kicks off at 4pm, CAF has appointed Namibian official Ndemugwanitha Twanyanyukwa as referee.
