…Players Talk Tough as Competition Heats Up
By Joel Ajayi 

The battle for two coveted tickets to the final round of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup qualifiers is set to commence in Abuja, as six countries—Nigeria, Eswatini, Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and St. Helena—face off in the Sub-Regional Qualifier C.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier C, scheduled from November 23rd to 28th, will feature 15 thrilling matches at the twin ovals of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Nigeria’s capital city.

Players from the participating teams have expressed confidence and determination to secure one of the available slots for the regional finals, which will include previously qualified teams such as Uganda, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, and Malawi.

Speaking at a world press conference on Friday in Abuja, ICC Tournament Director Martins Ondeku emphasized the significance of the event, describing it as both competitive and historic. He stated:  

“This is going to be a wonderful and highly competitive tournament. It is the last Africa sub-regional qualifier, where the top two teams will advance to the regional final to face already qualified nations like Uganda, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, and Malawi next year.”

Ondeku further revealed that the host nation for the final qualifiers would be announced on Monday. He also commended the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) for providing a conducive environment for the tournament.

Nigeria’s team captain, Sylvester Okpe, expressed optimism about his team’s chances:  “We are very optimistic as a team because we have prepared extensively. With our participation in tournaments such as the All-Africa Games and our recent tour in Kenya, we are positive. All we need is to stay focused and play our best cricket to achieve the best results.”

Sierra Leone captain Lansanah Lawin echoed a similar sentiment:  “Our goal as a team is to secure one of the tickets.”

Eswatini captain Adil Butt, meanwhile, made his team’s intentions clear:  “We are not here in Nigeria to just participate—we are here to win. Our target is to emerge victorious. It’s going to be a great tournament for us.”

NCF President Uyi Akpata highlighted Nigeria’s growing capacity to host international cricket events, noting that the tournament would serve as a testament to the nation’s preparedness and infrastructure.
Currently, the Nigerian Men’s Cricket Team is ranked 36th in the T20 global rankings, making them the highest-ranked team in this sub-regional qualifier.

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