Nigeria’s Female Team Begins ICC World Cup Ticket Chase in Botswana
Nigeria’s Women’s Cricket team will today begin a chase for spot in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Gaborone, Botswana where the African Qualifier is taking place. The Nigerian ladies are to tackle Sierra Leone in the opening round of the event.
Nigeria is paired with Namibia, Cameroon, Uganda and Sierra Leone in Group B of the ICC Women’s T20 Africa Qualifying Series where the overall winner picks the sole ticket available at the event.
Group A consists of Botswana, Eswatini, Rwanda, Tanzania and Mozambique.
Etim Blessing, the most experienced player on the Nigerian team would be leading the ladies.
Leader of the Nigerian delegation, Professor Mariam Suleiman acceded that the outing promises to be a great one for the Nigerian side.
“The team had been camped for close to a month in Benin City and enjoyed top class training with some of the best female handlers in the country.
“This is also against the fact that they featured at Kwibuka Invitational Tournament earlier in the year in Rwanda which exposed them to some tough match situation,” she recalled.
According to Professor Suleiman, they are more prepared and the only justification for their handwork is for them to grind out results at in the matches ahead.
“Since their last outing, they have seen a couple of changes including few joggling in the team’s line up, and all these we believe will come together for us to win our first match against Sierra Leone.”
The team is made up of Blessing Etim (c), Kehinde Abdulquadri, Taiwo Abdulquadri, Omonye Asika, George Chinyenum, Mary Desmond, Joy Efosa, Abigail Igbobie (wk), Miracle Imimole, Piety Lucky, Agatha Obulor, Racheal Samson, Esther Sandy and Salome Sunday.
Nigeria will take on Namibia and Uganda on Friday and Saturday respectively before taking a rest on Sunday and return on Monday to tackle Cameroon in their final group game.
Etim added that, “We have done a lot of work individually and collectively as a team and I believe the event will be one of our best outings yet and we are eagerly looking forward to hit the field”
She added that the team was motivated by the huge support offered by the Edo State Government and the Nigerian Cricket Federation, during their near one month stay at Camp.
“It is just natural that we show our appreciation by putting up a show they would be proud of here. And that is what we hope to do. Especially make everybody back home proud.”