Sports
ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier: Nigeria Crush Sierra Leone in Dominant Start
Joel Ajayi
The Nigeria Women’s Cricket Team, popularly known as the Female Yellow Greens, announced their arrival in style at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier in Namibia with a commanding 96-run victory over Sierra Leone.
Seirra Leone after winning the toss put the female YellowGreens to bat, Nigeria showcased their batting depth and power, piling up a formidable total of 182/3 in 20 overs.
Piety Lucky Player of the match, was the star of the innings, blasting a sensational 68 runs off just 36 balls with 8 fours and 3 sixes, setting the tone with fearless stroke play. She was well-supported by Muhibat K. Amusa, who played a steady knock of 31 runs from 33 balls, before being run out.
The momentum was carried forward by Salome Sunday, who struck an elegant 47 off 33 deliveries, smashing 8 boundaries, while Christabel Chukwuonye added a quick-fire 20 off 15 balls. Their combined efforts powered Nigeria to one of their highest T20I totals in recent competitions.
In reply, Sierra Leone never looked comfortable against Nigeria’s disciplined bowling attack and could only manage 86/8 in 20 overs.
The Nigerian bowlers delivered with precision:Rachael Samson who made her 60th appearance for Nigeria was the most economical and effective, claiming 1 wicket for just 8 runs in 3 overs.
Adeshola Adekunle (1/10 in 3 overs) and Piety Lucky (1/12 in 2 overs) also chipped in with vital breakthroughs.
Contributions from Peace Usen (0/19 in 4 overs) and Muhibat K. Amusa (0/12 in 3 overs) ensured the pressure never eased on Sierra Leone’s batters.
Despite some resistance from Sierra Leone’s middle order, regular wickets at crucial intervals ensured Nigeria’s dominance throughout the innings. The final scoreboard reflected Nigeria’s superiority: Nigeria 182/3 (20 overs) defeated Sierra Leone 86/8 (20 overs) by 96 runs.
This emphatic victory not only boosts Nigeria’s net run rate but also depicts the teams readiness for other contenders in Group A, where the Female Yellow Greens will face host nation Namibia and regional powerhouse Zimbabwe in the coming days.
With confidence sky-high and both batting and bowling firing in unison, Nigeria’s quest for a World Cup spot has begun on the perfect note.
Sports
FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification
Legal Practitioner And Administrator Barr Bucknor Threatens To Petition FCT Minister Over Abandoned Stadiums
Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barrister Babatunde Burknor, a board member of the FCT Football Association (FA), remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can still secure qualification.
Nigeria currently sits third in their qualification group with 11 points from 8 matches, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa, who both lead with 14 points. Yet Burknor, a seasoned football administrator and grassroots sports advocate, believes all is not lost.
In a recent interview made available to BSN Sports, Burknor said: “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may appear almost impossible, but that doesn’t mean it is out of reach. The situation is tough, yes, but looking at the quality of players in our squad, I still believe we can make it.”
He added that unexpected results from other group rivals could work in Nigeria’s favour.
“Football is unpredictable. There is still a chance that South Africa, Benin Republic, or Rwanda could drop points. If we win our remaining two games, we still stand a chance. Sometimes football reflects life where the strong may fall while the seemingly weak stand tall.”
Calls for Grassroots Reform in the FCT
Beyond national team concerns, Burknor also used the opportunity to address the state of sports development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take concrete action to revamp local infrastructure.
“We have deep-rooted problems when it comes to grassroots sports. The major issue is a lack of funding and commitment from those charged with driving development at that level,” he said.
Burknor lamented the disappearance of once-thriving youth competitions like the Chairman’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, and Shell Cup, stating that such events played a crucial role in identifying and nurturing young talent.
“It’s disheartening that these programs are no longer active. Development is impossible without facilities, yet we lack even basic training grounds.”
The legal luminary revealed that he personally upgraded the sports facility at a government secondary school in his area to serve as a makeshift training centre, due to the absence of a functioning local stadium.
He is currently drafting a petition to Minister Wike, over abandoned stadiums in FCT, urging a comprehensive audit of officials responsible for sports development across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
Progress in Gwagwalada Football Development
As Vice Chairman of the Gwagwalada Football Council, Burknor highlighted the success of the Gwagwalada Football League, which has become a model for other Area Councils.
“In just two years, we’ve turned the Gwagwalada Football League into a success story. Several players from the league have already secured contracts in Europe. This shows what can be achieved with vision and consistency.”
Barrister Burknor, emphasized that grassroots football holds the key to Nigeria’s long-term football success and must be taken seriously.
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