Cricket: The president of NCF proves the success of the Nigeria T20 World Cup to the four -year preparation

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The president of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), UYI AKPATA, has praised the U-19 women’s team of the country, after its final among the top six in the Women’s Cup Women’s Cup ICC Sub-19 in Malaysia.

Akpata accredited success to four years of strategic development, affirming the role of school competitions, national youth games and U-17 championships in the configuration of the team.

He also highlighted Nigeria’s investment in young talents, with seven players already presented for the national senior team.

“Most of the Nigerians who followed these girls for almost two weeks were super excited, proud of what girls have done for themselves, their immediate families, the Nigeria Cricket Federation and, more importantly, the country in general. “

“We redefined expectations as we advanced, and these girls really deserve all the praise they are receiving now.”

“We also realize that this is not only by chance, but that they are four years in process.”

Akpata further detailed the structured development route that this team produced, declaring:

“We have a development plan in which most of these girls began school through secondary school competitions, then the National Games of Youth, then the PWC U-17 championships.”

“Then, at the end of the day, it has been strategic in terms of where we position them.”

“Seven of them had played for the conventional female team.”

Beyond the identification of talent, Akpata also emphasized the importance of Nigeria’s high performance facilities in Abuja, Lagos and Benin, which have helped maintain the pipe of emerging stars.

“That is because we decided from the beginning to identify the talents and continue preparing them.”

“The fact that we have established high performance facilities, Abuja, Lagos and Benin, becomes that we continue to have that talent pipe.”

A historical feat for Nigerian Cricket

The achievement of the yellow green junior marks a turning point for the Women’s Cricket in Nigeria, ensuring the automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup edition in Nepal and Bangladesh.

With its impressive victories about New Zealand and Ireland and almost qualification for the semifinals, the team has consolidated Nigeria’s place on the global stage.

Nigeria’s investment in Cricket’s base development is paying off, preparing the stage for even greater achievements in the coming years.