Cricket: Team Nigeria Set For ICC T20 Tourney

Nigerian team are battle ready for the 2013 Pepsi ICC-Africa Division 1 Championship which begins in Kampala, Uganda this weekend. The competition will end on 3 March.

According to the schedule of events made available to P.M.NEWS Sports by Nigeria Cricket Federation, NCF, Team Nigeria, who have been playing series of friendly games against selected Ugandan team since they arrived Kampala last week, will play their first match of the tournament against the hosts at a yet to be specified date by the organiser. The country’s representatives will test strength against Botswana in their second match before playing Kenya in the last match of the first round.

Team Nigeria will start their second round match against the hosts. They will then play Tanzania, Kenya and round off their second round fixtures against Botswana.

Nigeria won the ICC-Africa APL T20 Division 2 Trophy in Johannesburg, South Africa in May 2011 thus qualifying for the ICC-Africa APL T20 Division 1 that was hosted by Uganda.

Little was known about Nigeria which clearly worked for them as they almost upset hosts Uganda in one of the games played. Nigeria are going into this year’s tournament with a lot of confidence to cause some upsets after emerging 4th in the last tournament held in Uganda.

Nigeria was promoted from Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 7 to Division 6 after securing 2nd position at the WCL Div 7 Tournament held in Gaborone, Botswana in the same month of May, 2011. They are currently ranked 37th in ICC ODI Ranking.

Nigeria will place their hopes at the Uganda 2013 on all rounders Kunle Adegbla, Jide Bejide and Seye Olympio to deliver the “Holy Grail” in their second appearance of the tournament.

—Taiwo Adelu