The Nigeria Women’s Cricket team will Thursday begin a chase for a spot in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup in Gaborone, Botswana where the Africa Qualifier is taking place.
The Nigerian Ladies will be up against Sierra Leone in the opening round of the event.
Nigeria is grouped 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 Nigeria’s team would be leading the Nigerian side of which the leader of the Nigeria delegation, Professor Mariam Suleiman acceded it promises to be a great outing 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.”
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 a few juggling in the team’s lineup, and all these we believe will come together for us from 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 resume 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”
Adding that, the team was motivated by the huge support offered by the Edo State Government and the Cricket Association, 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.”
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