The 10th edition of the National Men’s championship got on the way with the preliminary matches across the various zones in the country. South-south, South-west and North-west all resumed proceedings today 30th November 2017 with South-east and North-central to begin on the 1st of December.
Teams represented from the various zones include
SOUTH-SOUTH SOUTH-WEST NORTH-WEST
- Edo State Lagos State Kaduna State (Host)
- Bayelsa State Ogun State Jigawa State
- Rivers State (Host) Oyo State (Host) Zamfara State
- Delta State Osun State Sokoto State
Ondo State Kano State
NORTH-CENTRAL SOUTH -EAST
- FCT (Host) Enugu State (Host)
- Kwara State Anambra State
- Niger State
A total of 20 states participated in the Zonal elimination with each team registering 14 players respectively. Statistically, a total of 280 senior men competing at the national level in Nigeria.
RESULTS FROM VARIOUS ZONES
SOUTH-SOUTH
GAME 1: Akwa Ibom State vs Bayelsa State
Akwa Ibom won the toss and elected to bat scoring a total of 115 runs all out in 27 overs.
Edidion Offiong of Akwa Ibom scored 38 runs.
In the second innings, Bayelsa chased down the score to record a total of 117 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in 20 overs.
Bayelsa state won the match by 4 wickets
GAME 2: Edo State vs Rivers State
Edo State won the toss and elected to bat first soring a total of 127 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in 30 overs. Ibodeme Theophilus scored 47 runs not out as the best performer for Edo State.
Isiaka Audu got 2 wickets for 10 runs in 6 overs.
In the second innings, Rivers state put up a decent chase but fell short of the required total scoring a total of 111 runs all out in 26.5 overs. Top performer with the ball for Edo state was Agho Peter with 4 wickets, strongly supported by Aghedo Eghosa with 3 wickets
Tamuno John of Rivers state scored 46 runs as the best bating effort for the team.
Edo State won the match by 16 runs
Day 2 Report
Match 3: Edo State vs Akwa Ibom State
Edo State won the toss and elected to bat first scoring a total of 148 runs all out in 30 overs.
Ayo Mene Ejegi scored 32 supported by Clement Amanokhai with 23 runs.
Edet Joseph and Ikpewe Aniekan both had 3 wickets respectively for Akwa Ibom
In the second innings, Akwa Ibom could only respond with a meager score of 74 runs all out in 26 overs.
Ayo Mene Ejegi got 3 wickets for 8 runs in 6 overs.
Edo state won the match by 74 runs.
Match 4: Rivers State vs Bayelsa State
Rivers State won the toss and elected to bat first scoring a total of 251 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in 30 overs.
Adegbola Biyi scored 56 runs supported by Gbenga Olayemi with 28 runs.
Godswill Adum got 3 wickets for 40 runs as the best performer with the ball for Bayelsa State
In the second innings, Bayelsa state could only manage 86 runs all out in 26 overs.
Biyi Adegbola took 6 wickets for 15 runs in 4 overs.
Rivers State won by 165 runs
Match 5: Edo State vs Bayelsa State
Bayelsa State won the toss and elected to bat first scoring a total of 83 runs all out in 23.5 overs.
Ayo Mene Ejegi took 4 wicket, while Kelvin Agbonmwanegbe took 3 wickets
In the second innings, Edo Chased down the score in just 11.2 overs scoring 87 runs for the loss of 2 wickets
Edo State won by 8 wickets to qualify as champions for the South-South Zone.
FINAL QUALIFICATION TABLE
| S/N | TEAMS | GAMES PLAYED | WON | DRAW | LOSE | POINT |
| 1 | Edo State | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| 2 | Rivers State | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 |
| 3 | Bayelsa State | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
| 4 | Akwa Ibom State | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
SOUTH-EAST
The south east featured just 2 states after a late pull out by Ebonyi State. The only match was between Anambra state and Enugu State. A 40 overs match was scheduled for this contest.
Enugu State won the toss and elected to bat first scoring a total of 145 all out in 26.2 overs
Obinna Chisom scored 31 runs of 27 balls.
Ifediora with 3 wickets for Anambra State.
In the second innings, Anambra State chased down the score with a total of 149 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 25 overs.
Anambra State won the match by 1 wicket.
FINAL QUALIFICATION TABLE
| S/N | TEAMS | GAMES PLAYED | WON | DRAW | LOSE | POINT |
| 1 | Anambra State | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2 | Enugu State | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
SOUTH-WEST
Game 1: Lagos State vs Osun State
Osun State won the toss and elected to bat scoring a total of 31 runs all out in 11.1 overs.
Kunle Awonsanmi and Mustapha Yusuf both had 5 wickets each.
In the second innings, Lagos state chased down the score in just 3.1 overs scoring 32 runs for no loss of wicket.
Lagos State won the match by 10 wickets.
Game 2: Oyo State vs Ogun State
Oyo State won the toss and elected to bowl first sending in Ogun State to bat. Ogun scored a total of 183 runs for the loss of 3 wickets in 30 overs. Top performer in the bating effort for Ogun was Adegbola Yemi with 79 runs in 55 balls strongly supported by Adedeji Sesan with 70 runs in 65 balls
In the second innings, Oyo state could not match the fire power of the bowling attack from Ogun state and fell short of the required total scoring 136 runs for the loss of 9 wickets in 30 overs.
Dayo Lawal was the top performer with the bat for Oyo state with 63 runs.
Ogun state won by 47 runs.
| S/N | TEAMS | GAMES PLAYED | WON | DRAW | LOSE | POINT |
| 1 | Lagos State | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 2 | Ogun State | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| 3 | Oyo State | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 4 |
| 4 | Osun State | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| 5 | Ondo State | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
NORTH-CENTRAL
Game 1: FCT vs Niger State
FCT won the toss and elected to bat scoring a total of 300 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in 30 overs
Muhamed Hashim top the scoring chat with 52 runs strongly supported by Saad butt with 49 runs and
In the second innings, Niger state could only manage a score of 74 runs all out in 19 overs
Saad Butt of FCT got 5wkts as the best performer with the ball.
FCT won by 226 runs.
Game 2: FCT vs Kwara State
FCT won the toss and elected to bat first scoring a total of 243 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in 30 overs.
Ariyor Gbenga scored 61 runs strongly supported by Abinarv Sharma with 45 runs not out.
In the second innings, Kwara state could only respond with a total of 137 runs for the loss of 5 wickets in 24 overs.
FCT won the match by 106 runs
Game 3: Kwara State vs Niger State
Niger State won the toss and elected to field first sending in Kwara state to bat. Kwara state scored a total of 300 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in 30 overs.
Oguniran Samuel scored an impressive 112 runs off 78 balls as the only century scored in the zonal elimination round. Saka Sikiru supported with 49 runs not out.
In the second innings, Niger state responded by scoring low total of 42 runs all out in 11 overs
Bakare Taiwo took 6 wickets supported by Adewale Biokoto with 3 wickets to wrap up an impressive bowling innings
Kwara State won by 258 runs
FINAL QUALIFICATION TABLE
| S/N | TEAMS | GAMES PLAYED | WON | DRAW | LOSE | POINT |
| 1 | FCT | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2 | Kwara State | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
| 3 | Niger State | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |