Sports
Nigeria Grabs Africa’s Sole Ticket To 2025 U19 Cricket World Cup
Joel Ajayi
Nigeria has secured Africa’s sole ticket to the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under 19 Women’s World Cup in Malaysia 2025.
Nigeria was declared the winner of the Under 19 Africa Qualifiers on Sunday after the final match against Zimbabwe was washed out due to a heavy downpour in the second innings.
The final game played at Gahanga International Stadium in Kigali, saw Nigeria win the toss and opted to bat, scoring 77 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 20 overs.
In the chase, Zimbabwe started strong scoring 19/1 in 2.3 overs but was halted by the rain and play could no longer proceed.
However, ICC officials adjudged Nigeria the winner for being the only participant unbeaten at the qualifier and had also topped its group.
Meanwhile Uyi Akpata, President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), in his reaction to the victory, said that the qualification is a reward for the hard work and tenacity of everyone involved.
“First, I must thank the players, for their boldness and dedication to this project. The board members too have been very supportive, and I will not forget the coaches and the technical team behind them.”
“The World Cup is a bigger task; we need more resources and a robust plan to run a successful campaign. All hands must be on deck, and it starts now,” Akpata noted.
Nigeria’s run to victory began with beating Tanzania by four wickets, Zimbabwe by one wicket, and overrunning Malawi by 86 runs to top Group B.
In the semi-final, Nigeria beat host Rwanda by 62 runs to set up the second encounter with Zimbabwe in the finals encounter was washed out.
The 2025 World Cup in Malaysia is scheduled for Jan. 18 to Feb. 2, 2025, with Nigeria in Group C alongside New Zealand, South Africa, and Samoa.
Sports
From Streets to Stardom: Unique Futbol Academy Scouting Program Inspires Ibadan’s Young Footballers
Ibadan is buzzing with excitement as the Unique Football Academy Scouting Program kicks off, bringing together top European football clubs and talented young Nigerian players.
The four-day program, which commenced on Monday, features a delegation of four directors from prominent European teams, including two from Kosovo and one from India, led by renowned football agent Diego Martins from Portugal.
The scouting program aims to identify and select outstanding players who will be given opportunities to showcase their skills in Europe.
Successful players will be offered the chance to take their careers to the next level, with the organizers assuring them of opportunities abroad.
According to the Director of the program and founder of Unique Football Academy, Mr. Jelil Oladimeji, this is not the first time the academy has organized such an event.
“This is the 4th edition, and we are proud of the progress and impact we have made so far in terms of exposing our raw talent to the European market,” he said.
The program has already proven successful, with several players from previous editions going on to excel in European leagues. Some notable examples include Haruna Saleh with PAOK in Greece and Praisegod Emersons in Slovakia.
As the program continues, clubs are gearing up to exhibit their talents, and the future looks bright for Nigeria’s young football stars.
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