After months of preparation, Nigeria’s U-19 women’s cricket team, the Junior Female Yellow Greens, is set to face Pakistan in a warm-up game today, Monday, January 13, ahead of their first appearance at the Malaysia 2025 ICC Women’s U-19 World Cup.
The warm-up match will take place at the YSD-UKM Cricket Oval in Bangi, Malaysia, starting at 3:30 pm local time (10:30 pm Nigerian time).
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Nigeria qualified for the tournament as the sole representative from Africa, after a historic performance in the African Qualifying Series in Kigali, Rwanda, last October. They surpassed strong teams like Zimbabwe and Uganda to claim the coveted spot.
The Nigerian team, captained by Lucky Piety, will take on the world’s eighth-ranked team, Pakistan, in preparation for their group stage matches. Nigeria is currently ranked 26th on the ICC T20 women’s log.
Uyi Akpata, President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, described the event as a significant milestone for the country’s cricket development.
“The girls have undergone rigorous training, including a final camp session in India last week before arriving in Malaysia. I am confident these experiences will enhance their performance,” he said.
He also acknowledged the support of the National Sports Commission, commending their role in ensuring the team’s successful preparation for the World Cup.
Drawn into Group C, Nigeria will face Samoa, New Zealand, and South Africa in the tournament. Their opening match against Samoa is scheduled for Saturday, January 18, at the Borneo Cricket Ground in Sarawak.
Subsequent games include a clash with New Zealand on January 20 and a final group-stage match against South Africa on January 22.
The Women’s U-19 World Cup marks Nigeria’s second-ever appearance at a cricket World Cup, following the men’s U-19 team’s qualification for the 2019 edition in South Africa.
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