By Andrew Abah, Abuja
Nigeria’s men’s cricket team has emerged victorious in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Africa Qualifier C, defeating Botswana in a thrilling top-of-the-table clash on Thursday to seal their spot.
Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, was on hand to support the team at the event, as he hailed the cricket family.
Speaking after the victory, he praised the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) and its president, Uyi Akpata, for their transformative efforts in advancing the sport in Nigeria.
“I’m extremely proud, not just of the victory recorded today, but also of what my senior brother, Uyi Akpata, and his team have achieved with the Nigerian Cricket Federation,” Olopade said.
“When you look at this Oval and hear the story of how it became an ICC-standard facility, you marvel at the effort and passion they’ve put in. This aligns with President Tinubu’s vision of bringing the private sector on board to drive sports development.”
He also highlighted the rapid progress cricket has made in Nigeria, pointing to the recent success of the Nigeria U-19 women’s cricket team, which secured Africa’s sole ticket to the ICC U-19 Women’s World Cup, set to be held in Malaysia in 2025.
“Already, I’ve promised to be present to support the U-19 female team,” he added.
Olopade stressed the importance of diversifying Nigeria’s sports focus:
“We need to de-emphasize the pedagogy of one sport being bigger than others. Cricket is massive globally, and it is gratifying to see Nigeria making inroads in the sport. The NSC will support the federation, just as we do with others. Beyond growing participation, we want to build a sustainable economy around the sports ecosystem.”
Nigeria dominated the tournament with an unbeaten record, securing five wins out of five. Other participating teams included Sierra Leone, Eswatini, Côte d’Ivoire, and St. Helena.
Hon. Olopade concluded that the victory underscores the growing prominence of cricket in Nigeria, thanks to strategic investments and the dedication of stakeholders, positioning the country as a rising force in the global cricket scene.
