The Junior Yellow-Greens of Nigeria will launch 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 Sunday with a rain-washed doubleheader between host Tanzania and Kenya; on one hand and Namibia and Uganda, on the other, meant that weather could be a factor in deciding the series.
Nigeria’s gaffer, former national-team player, Daniel Gim, said his team was in good shape, adding he’s looking he will make the best of the talents at his disposal.
“Mental preparation and game awareness are things we have been focusing on.” Gim said.“ 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 added
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Only one World Cup ticket is being vied for in Dar-es-Salaam by the six participating countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Namibia, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and host Tanzania.
President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, Uyi Akpata, noted Nigeria’s team is a product of grassroots campaigns and unrelenting commitment from stakeholders to grow the game.
“On the continents now, our efforts are being recognized, 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 at this event,” Akpata said. “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.”
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 round Qualifier for the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka 2024 through a Division-2 Qualifier that was hosted in Abuja October 2022; where Kenya and Sierra Leone also picked their slots from.