The Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), under the leadership of President Uyi Akpata, has outlined an ambitious six-point strategic plan aimed at significantly elevating the sport’s stature within the nation by 2025. This ambitious roadmap is built upon the foundation of a successful 2024, a year marked by unprecedented achievements for Nigerian cricket on both the continental and international stage. The NCF’s vision encompasses infrastructural development, enhanced commercial viability, and bolstering the competitive capabilities of the national teams, both male and female.
The year 2024 witnessed Nigerian cricket reaching notable milestones. The men’s team secured a historic victory against Namibia at the African Games in Ghana, while the women’s team proudly claimed a bronze medal at the same event. Further solidifying their presence on the global stage, the women’s U-19 team qualified for the 2025 ICC Women’s U-19 World Cup in Malaysia, marking their second appearance in a world cup tournament. These achievements, according to Akpata, represent not merely isolated triumphs, but rather the culmination of strategic efforts and the establishment of a solid foundation for future growth. The NCF President emphasizes that 2024’s successes are a springboard for even greater accomplishments in 2025 and beyond.
The NCF’s ambitious targets for 2025 include significant improvements in the international rankings of both the men’s and women’s national teams. The federation aims to propel the women’s team into the top 20 globally and to elevate the men’s team to the top 30. This upward trajectory for the men’s team is crucial for entry into the Challenge League, providing access to the One Day International (ODI) format, a significant step towards competing at the highest echelons of the sport. Achieving these ranking goals requires a multifaceted approach that encompasses improved training regimes, access to high-quality facilities, and increased exposure to competitive international matches.
Beyond international rankings, the NCF’s strategic blueprint focuses on expanding the sport’s reach within Nigeria and fostering grassroots development. A key element of this plan is the development of cricket facilities across the country’s geopolitical zones. This decentralized approach will enhance accessibility to the sport, nurture emerging talent in various regions, and facilitate the hosting of more tournaments nationwide. The increased availability of training grounds and competition venues will provide aspiring cricketers with greater opportunities to hone their skills and represent their regions, ultimately contributing to a stronger national talent pool.
Further strengthening its commitment to the growth of women’s cricket, the NCF aims to attract one million new participants to the sport within the next five years. This initiative aligns with the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) global strategy for expanding women’s participation in cricket. By actively promoting the sport among girls and women, the NCF seeks to create a wider talent pool, fostering greater competition and ultimately enhancing the performance of the national women’s teams. This initiative requires targeted outreach programs, school-based initiatives, and the creation of a welcoming and inclusive environment for women within the sport.
The final pillar of the NCF’s strategic plan centers on commercialization and building a strong cricket brand. Recognizing the importance of financial sustainability for long-term growth, the federation is actively seeking to attract investment and build commercial partnerships. By showcasing the sport’s growing popularity and the success of the national teams, the NCF aims to position cricket as an attractive investment opportunity for potential sponsors. This will enable the federation to further invest in infrastructure, player development, and coaching programs, creating a virtuous cycle of growth and success. With the men’s national team starting 2025 ranked 36th globally and the women’s team at 25th, following their success in the ICC T20 World Cup Africa Sub Regional Qualifier C, the NCF has a solid platform on which to build its ambitious vision for the future of Nigerian cricket.
