Paragraph 1: A Triumphant Conclusion for Young Cricket Stars
The sixth edition of the Nigeria Cricket Federation’s National U-17 Championships concluded with a flourish, celebrating the exceptional talent of young cricketers from across the nation. Ten outstanding individuals, representing both male and female categories, were recognized for their exceptional performances, adding another successful chapter to the tournament’s history. The championship, held at the Twin Ovals of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, showcased the dedication and hard work of these young athletes, promising a bright future for Nigerian cricket.
Paragraph 2: South South’s Continued Dominance and Individual Brilliance
The South South region continued its reign of dominance, claiming top honors in both the male and female categories, a testament to the region’s strong cricket infrastructure and development programs. Despite the South South’s overall supremacy, individual brilliance shone from other regions as well. The tournament highlighted the depth of talent spread across Nigeria, with players from various regions demonstrating their skills and passion for the game. This diverse representation underscores the growing popularity and reach of cricket throughout the country.
Paragraph 3: Recognizing Excellence: Individual Awards in the Male Category
The male category saw a deserving Ubiri Praise from the South South team crowned as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his impressive haul of nine wickets. His teammate, Bright Edem, also received accolades, earning the title of Best Fielder for his sharp reflexes resulting in four catches. While the South South, South West, and South East occupied the podium, Mohammed Yahaya of North Central emerged as the Best Bowler, highlighting the distributed talent pool. His teammate, Abdulrahman Aliyu, was recognized for his exemplary sportsmanship with the Best Behaved Player award, while David Garba of the North East earned the Best Batter award for his impressive 71 runs across two innings.
Paragraph 4: Celebrating Talent: Individual Awards in the Female Category
In the female category, Beauty Oguai of the South South was crowned MVP for her outstanding batting performance, amassing an impressive 120 runs. Aisha Aliyu from the North East showcased her exceptional fielding skills, securing the Best Fielder award with five dismissals. Abdulwaheed Sofiat of North Central emerged as the Best Bowler, claiming an impressive nine wickets, while her teammate, Hassana Saliu, earned the Best Batter recognition with her 39 runs, further strengthening the North Central’s presence.
Paragraph 5: Nurturing Future Stars: Presidential Awards and Tournament Impact
The Presidential Awards for Most Promising Players were awarded to Malik Elshinla from the South West in the male category and Ude Sunshine from the South East in the female category, acknowledging their potential to become future stars of Nigerian cricket. Tournament coordinator Musa Ehizoje underscored the significance of the championship, highlighting its role in expanding the pool of Nigerian cricket talent. Ehizoje emphasized the NCF’s commitment to nurturing these young talents and raising the profile of Nigerian cricket both nationally and internationally. The tournament’s success reaffirms the effectiveness of the NCF’s developmental programs.
Paragraph 6: Growth and Legacy: A Foundation for Future Success
The 2024 edition of the U-17 Championship witnessed participation from 36 states, a significant increase from previous years, demonstrating the growing appeal of cricket across the nation and the NCF’s dedicated focus on grassroots development. The tournament serves as a platform to discover and nurture young talents, following in the footsteps of players like Piety Lucky, Lilian Ude, and Peace Usen, who represented Nigeria at the 2025 ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia. The steady growth in participation since the inaugural edition in 2019 signals a promising future for Nigerian cricket, as the tournament continues to identify and develop the next generation of national and international stars.
