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Bilateral Cricket Series against S/Leone to Prepare Nigeria for ICC T20l W/C Qualifiers in Nov.– NCF

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The Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), on Monday, said that the T-20 Bilateral Series between the National men’s team and their Sierra Leonean counterparts would adequately prepare the country for the ICC T20l World Cup qualifiers.

Nigeria would participate in the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers slated for Rwanda in November.

Speaking at a press conference organised to herald the series in Lagos, Femi Solebo, the Chairman, Local Organising Committee of the series, said The NCF planned to keep the national team in good shape and primed for the international encounter.

Solebo, a board member of the NCF, said that the series, which would commence on Oct.

19 and end on Oct. 26 at the University of Lagos Cricket Oval, is part of the Federation’s elite cricket development plan.

“The games against Sierra Leone have a historical and developmental relevance to all that we do. We intend to keep the national teams busy while expanding our development agendas.

“This particular encounter will help us prime our players for the forthcoming T-20 World Cup Qualifiers.

“But, among other things, it will also help us size up the options we have for the national team, keeping in mind the huge investments in grassroots and age-grade cricket development’’, he said.

Asanka Gurursinha, the Nigeria Head Coach and High-Performance Manager, said the national team was ready for the Series and there had been changes made since the last Tri-Series tournament in Uganda.

“The Nigerian team is a fairly young side and has been growing and getting better with every game they play together.

“Exposing them to more international matches like this one would put them to test and hone their skills for better performance. I believe this Series will do that for the team.

“This series is very important for both teams as they prepare for the ICC T20 World cup qualifier in November, so we expect a very competitive series’’, Asanka said.

Also speaking, Joshua Ayannaike, the Captain of the national male cricket team, said the series would be a good test for the team ahead of the ICC T20l qualifiers in Rwanda.

Ayannaike said the sole target of the team was to win the sole qualification ticket in Rwanda.

“If you have been training for a long time, it is very important for you to measure yourself, so this is like a test before the qualifiers for us,” he said.

Nigeria will take on the Sierra Leone team back-to-back from  Oct.19 to Oct. 21 daily and have a break on Oct. 22 before playing, three other matches. (NAN)

SPORTS

Finals of Gov. Peter Mbah Secondary Schools Games Begin in Enugu

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The finals of Gov. Peter Mbah Secondary Schools Games, on Thursday began in Enugu with the arrival and accreditation of athletes at Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu.

Dan Onwuegbuna, Director, Information, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Enugu State, said in a statement on Thursday that the games would be held between Aug.

7 and Aug.
10 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium and the Enugu State Sports Council.

“The games is designed to help the state discover talents to represent the state at the forthcoming U15 National Youth Games scheduled to take place in Asaba, Delta, from Aug. 26 to Sept. 6,” he stated.

Onwuegbuna said that apart from representing the state at the Youth Games in Asaba, talented athletes discovered would represent the state in other competitions.

He quoted the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Lloyd Ekweremadu as thanking Gov. Peter Mbah for approving the games.

Onwuegbuna said that the games was made possible following the collaboration between the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the state Post Primary Schools Management Board (PPSMB).

The games finals followed the outcome of the inter- Secondary Schools competitions held at the local government areas in the six Educational Zones in the State – Enugu, Agbani, Awgu, Udi, Nsukka and Udenu.

“The games will feature athletics, boxing, chess, basketball, volleyball, football, tennis and scrabble,” Onwuegbuna stated.

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SPORTS

Super Falcons’ Nnadozie Nominated for Ballon d’Or Best Goalkeeper Award

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Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has been nominated for the 2025 Women’s Yachine Trophy, the Ballon d’Or award for the best female goalkeeper.

The 24-year-old recently joined Brighton Women FC from Paris FC after helping the French side win their first major title in nearly two decades.

Nnadozie delivered a heroic performance in the final of the 2025 Coupe de France Féminine, where Paris FC edged Paris Saint-Germain 5-4 on penalties following a goalless draw at Stade de l’Épopée in Calais.

She was also instrumental in Nigeria’s success at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), where the Super Falcons secured a record-extending 10th continental crown against host nation, Morocco.

Her standout displays earned her the Best Goalkeeper award and a place in the Team of the Tournament.

Other nominees for the Yachine Trophy include Ann-Katrin Berger (Gotham FC), Cata Coll (Barcelona Femeni), Hannah Hampton (Chelsea Women) and Daphne van Domselaar (Arsenal Women).

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SPORTS

Super Falcons Maintain 36th Position in Latest FIFA Women’s World Ranking

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Nigeria’s Super Falcons maintained 36th position in the latest FIFA women’s world ranking.

The latest ranking was released on FIFA’s official website yesterday.

While the Super Falcons remain the number one team in Africa, WAFCON 2024 runners-up Morocco are third on the continent and dropped to 64th spot in the world.

Former WAFCON champions Banyana Banyana of South Africa maintained 54th place in the world and second in Africa.

Ghana’s Black Queens who claimed third place at the WAFCON dropped to 67th position in the global ranking.

The Super Falcons recently won their 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after coming from 2-0 down to beat hosts Morocco 3-2 in the final.

Second half goals from Esther Okoronkwo, Folashade Ijamilusi and substitute Jennifer Echegini completed the turnaround.

Okoronkwo, scored a goal and provided two assists against the Moroccans was Named Player of the Match.

Chiamaka Nnadozie was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament while Captain Rasheedat Ajibade won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.

Meanwhile, World champions Spain (1st, up 1) had an impressive run to the final of the UEFA Women’s EURO 2025 with five back-to-back wins, which was enough to see them reclaim top spot in the ranking, a position they previously held from December 2023 to June 2024.

The USA (2nd, down 1) have therefore been knocked off their perch, which they had occupied since August 2024.

However, three convincing home wins in friendlies during this period have kept the USA in contention, and they are now sitting less than two points behind Spain.

The top 10 has been shaken up completely since the June edition of the ranking, with France (6th, up 4) performing best among them.

France completed a flawless group stage at the European Championship before falling to Germany in the quarter-finals.

The next edition of the Women’s World Ranking will be published on 11 December 2025.

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