‘Junior Female Yellow Greens will shine in Malaysia’
Junior Female Yellow Greens captain Lucky Piety says Nigerians should expect more from the team at the ICC Women’s U-19 World Cup in Malaysia next year, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Nigeria picked the ticket to the tournament on Sunday after facing test-playing nation Zimbabwe in the final of the Africa Qualifier Division 1 in Kigali, Rwanda.
With 77 runs in a gruelling innings, the Junior Yellow Greens were adjudged the best team in the tournament by ICC Africa after Zimbabwe’s innings were washed out by the rain.
It’s the second time Nigeria will qualify for 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.
“First of all, we are grateful for the support back home, and yes, expect more from us at the World Cup,” Piety told The Middle Stump after the final.
“When we were in the group stage, we knew we could be the best, and there was no looking back from there.”
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Cricket Federation has also said preparations will begin earnestly for the team ahead of the tournament, which holds from January 18 to February 2, 2025.
“First, I must thank the players for their boldness and dedication to this project. The board members too have been very supportive, and I will not forget the coaches and the technical team behind them,” NCF, Uyi Akpata said.
“The World Cup is a bigger task; we need more resources and a robust plan to run a successful campaign. All hands must be on deck, and it starts now.”
Nigeria will play in Group C, which also has New Zealand, South Africa, and Samoa.
The triumphant Junior Female Yellow Greens are expected back in the country on Tuesday (today) with a reception at the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval in Lagos.