Sports
Hostility Begins in Abuja as Nigeria, Botswana 4 Others Compete for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifying Slots
…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.
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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