Cricket: Nigeria picks Africa’s sole ticket to 2025 U-19 World Cup

The elements came together, yesterday, to propel Nigeria’s march to its first ICC Women’s U-19 World Cup at the qualifying championship, which ended yesterday at the Gahangha Cricket Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda.

Nigeria was leading in the final match against Zimbabwe before the game was washed out in the second inning. Officials adjudged Nigeria the winner for being the only participant unscathed at the qualifier and had also topped its group.

The International Cricket Council’s (ICC) official handle announced that “the finals has been washed out at Gahanga 2 Oval, Kigali, and Nigeria qualifies for the 2025 ICC Women’s World Cup in Malaysia as they topped the group and remained unbeaten.”

Elated by the development, Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), Uyi Akpata, described the qualification as a reward for the hard work and tenacity that everyone involved had committed to it. “I 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,” he said.

He added that the Federation’s next focus is to ensure the team resumes preparations for the World Cup in good time and seeks the support of all to make sure the World Cup campaign is a success.

Uyi added: “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.”

At the championship, which featured Africa’s top teams, Nigeria beat Tanzania by four wickets, Zimbabwe by one wicket, and overran Malawi by 86 runs to top Group B.

In the semifinal, Nigeria beat host Rwanda by 62 runs to set up the second encounter with Zimbabwe in the finals, which was washed out.

The 2025 U-19 ICC Women’s World Cup in Malaysia is scheduled to be held from January 18 to February 2 with Nigeria in Group C alongside New Zealand, South Africa and Samoa.