The Nigeria Cricket Federation has announced a strong 15-player squad for the 2025 ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup in Malaysia, one month to the start of the tournament, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
It’s an unchanged squad from the qualifiers in Kigali, Rwanda, where Nigeria picked the ticket to the World Cup which will be hosted by Malaysia from January 18 to February 2, 2025.
Captain Lucky Piety will lead 14 other players including Shola Adekunle, Peculiar Agboya, Anointed Aikigbe, Lillian Ude and Christabel Chukwuonye.
Other players are Kehinde Amusa, wicket keeper Deborah Bassey, Bieni Jessica, Omosigbo Eguakun, Victory Igbinedion, Naomi Memeh, Beauty Oguai, Inyene Umoh and super bowler Peace Usen.
The team will be led by Kenyan coach Sarah Bakhita, who would be assisted by former Yellow Greens captain Blessing Etim.
It’s the second time Nigeria will be participating in any cricket World Cup, the first being the men’s U-19 team, who also defied the odds to qualify for their World Cup in South Africa in 2019.
In Malaysia, the Junior Yellow Greens will play in Group C at the tournament alongside New Zealand, South Africa, and Samoa.
Their first match will be against Samoa on January 18, 2025 before facing New Zealand two days later and South Africa on January 22, 2025.
The 2025 ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup is the second edition of the tournament with India as the defending champions.
