Head coach of Nigeria’s senior female cricket team, Leke Oyede, has urged lovers of cricket in the country to come out and support the team when they begin their title defence in the Nigeria Cricket Federation T20i invitational tournament which begins this weekend, The PUNCH reports.
The fifth edition of the NCF T20i invitational tournament will be played between four teams from February 23 to March 4 at the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval in Lagos.
The Female Yellow Greens will be joined by last year’s runners up Rwanda, Sierra Leone and new entrants Tanzania for this year’s tournament.
Nigeria won the tournament last year, beating arch rivals Rwanda by nine runs for their second title.
Ahead of what is looking like a shake up in the tournament, Oyede believes the support of the fans will go a long way towards propelling the team to victory again.
“We are doing our best to prepare. I believe we have a better team now because most of the players have had ample playing time between last year and now. This includes international exposure and the recently concluded South-South Female League, where most players took part. Our hard work and the support of home fans will go a long way,” Oyede said.
The Female Yellow Greens have been camped in Benin City, Edo State since last week and will be in Lagos ahead of the tournament to put finishing touches to their preparations.
The tournament’s first ball will be on Sunday, February 25, with Tanzania squaring off with 2022 champions Rwanda by 10am, before Nigeria’s encounter with her West African rival Sierra Leone by 2:15pm.
