Sports
Nigeria Set For World Cricket League
The Technical Director,
Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), Olisa Egwuatu, has said that the senior male cricket team was being physically and mentally prepared for the World Cricket League (WCL) in Malaysia.
The team is camped in Abuja to prepare for the WCL, Division 5, holding from March 4 to 14.
Egwuatu told newsmen in Lagos that the federation had acquired the services of psychologists, as part of its efforts to adequately prepare the players ahead of the tournament.
According to him, the federation acquired a bowling machine that will enhance the batting speed of the cricketers, and they are also being trained in spin bowling.
“Camping is ok and the cricketers are working hard each day while the coaches are ensuring that the players are on their toes.
“With the bowling machine, batsmen are being trained on improving their speed to respond to the ball, while our bowlers are being trained in spin bowling.
“The main aim of spin bowling is to ensure that the ball is bowled with rapid rotation, so that when it bounces on the pitch, it will deviate from its normal straight path.
“This makes it difficult for the batsman to hit the ball cleanly,” he said.
The technical director said that Abuja was chosen as camp because its weather conditions suited that of Malaysia in the month of March.
“In March, Malaysia will be humid and sunny, so we decided to camp them in Abuja, where there will be lesser rainfall.
“Also, it presents an environment in which there is less disturbance for the cricketers,” Egwuatu said.
The team qualified for the WCL, Division 5, after it emerged second at the Division 6 in Jersey in 2013.
The other countries that will take part in the competition are: Jersey, Tanzania, Cayman Island, Guernsey and host country, Malaysia.
In a statement released by the league, the competition is scheduled to take place from Friday, June 5 to Sunday, June 14, 2026, with six clubs set to battle for the league title at the end of the 2025/26 season.
NWFL Chief Operating Officer, Modupe Shabi, said the choice of Port Harcourt reflects the Rivers State Government’s continued support for women’s football and its successful hosting of the league’s Annual General Assembly last year.
The Super Six tournament will feature the top three teams from Group A and Group B of the regular season competing in a round-robin format, with each club playing five matches over nine days.
Qualified teams for the competition include defending champions Bayelsa Queens, Edo Queens, Rivers Angels, Robo Queens, Nasarawa Amazons, and debutants Abia Angels.
The NWFL Premiership has produced four different winners in the last five editions, with Rivers Angels winning in 2021, Bayelsa Queens claiming the title in 2022 and 2025, Delta Queens triumphing in 2023, and Edo Queens emerging champions in 2024.
The league also urged participating clubs to comply with all competition regulations and directives ahead of the championship. The Super Six will determine Nigeria’s representative for the WAFU-B qualifiers for a place at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League and ultimately the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup.
Teams are expected to arrive on Friday, June 5, when the draw ceremony and pre-match meeting will also take place. Matchdays are scheduled for June 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14, with rest days in between before the tournament concludes with the trophy presentation ceremony.
