Nigeria U19 Cricket team plots England fall, Olopade optimistic

Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, is confident of victory as Nigeria U19 Cricket team tackles England on Saturday at the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup holding in Malaysia.

Olopade, who arrived in Malaysia in the early hours of Friday, told The Guardian in a telephone chat that the team is well motivated to beat England. The Nigeria’s Junior Female Yellow Greens, as the Nigerian U-19 team is fondly called, stunned the cricketing world with remarkable victory on Monday, after beating one of the tournament’s favourites New Zealand. They lost to South Africa in their second game but booked their ticket to the super six stage.

Olopade’s arrival on Friday morning after a long trip through Doha is to show the unwavering commitment of the leadership of the NSC in supporting every sport in the country to achieve sustainable growth.

“Though, it was a long trip from Nigeria to Malaysia, but I must say it is worth it because we have to show the girls our true support and love,” Olopade told The Guardian. “I have met with the players and their technical crew and I am confident they will beat England.”

After Saturday’s clash with England, the Nigerian team will face Ireland on January 29. To Olopade, the superlative performance of the Nigeria U19 Cricket team, particularly the victory against New Zealand, will remain a remarkable moment in the nation’s sports history.

“This is Nigeria’s first ever team to be at a cricket World Cup and recording such a big upset against cricket giant, New Zealand, to send shock waves to the entire cricket World is something we will continue to celebrate. I am sure they will create another upset against England.

“At the Sports Commission we want to ensure that every Sport gets supported in the best way possible so that they can also grow alongside the commission. This is why the NSC under the Chairmanship of Mallam Shehu Dikko is paying full attention to all the Sports.”

“And I am happy that even before I came here, the performance of the girls so far at this World cup is already generating so much excitement back home which is very good for the growth of the Sports,” Olopade stated.