The Nigeria National U-19 team AKA Junior Yellow Greens is set to jet off the shores of the country for the ICC U-19 World Cup scheduled to take place from 17th January to 9th February 2020 in South Africa. The Junior Yellow Greens have been in camp across the country preparing for the tournament with the final stages in Lagos. A fortnight ago to the Honorable Minister of Youth and Sports Development Mr. Sunday Dare received the ICC 360 review team from ICC led by Patricia Kambarami, Regional Development Manager, ICC Africa, and in that meeting, the honorable Minister requested to meet with the team to bid them farewell with the country’s blessings.
The team led by the President of the Federation Prof. Yahaya Adam Ukwenya, gave a brief history of the journey thus far in in qualifying for the world cup, explaining that Nigeria, against all odds had to overcome 10 countries across 2 divisions and in the space of 18 months to register the country’s emergence in the world of Cricket after over a century of the game’s existence in the country. He further emphasized that the success of the team was due sacrifice, hard work, focus, determination, pure grit and nature of a typical Nigerian with the ‘’never say die’’ attitude.
Responding to the President’s remarks, the Honorable Minister congratulated the boys for the milestone in qualifying for the World cup and promised that the Ministry will support the team in areas where necessary to ensure that they do not just attend the competition, but also to compete and aim for glory. He further advised the teams that ratings are irrelevant regardless of the fact that Nigeria has been drawn in a supposed group of death alongside Australia, England and West Indies. He further encouraged the players that when they return to the country with or without the trophy, he would ensure a courtesy visit to President Mohamed Buhari, because the boys are considered heroes even before leaving the shores of the country.
The team comprising of all the players from the last qualifying campaign and 4 new entrants, will be led once again by Sylvester Okpe as Captain and supported by Taiwo Mohammed as Vice-captain. Bating maestros Elijah Olaleye, Samuel Mba, Runsewe Suleimon, Isaac Daladi, will look to flourish while Rasheed Abolarin, Peter Aho, Jimoh Abdulrahaman and Isiaka Audu will led the bowling attack for the team.
High point of the visit was the official announcement of the team list and coaching crew that will be taking part in the world cup.
FINAL LIST OF NIGERIA UNDER 19 NATIONAL CRICKET TEAM TO THE ICC UNDER 19 WORLD CUP TAKING PLACE IN SOUTH AFRICA FROM 17 JANUARY – 9 FEBRUARY 2020
1) SYLVESTER OKPE (CAPTAIN)
2)TAIWO MOHAMMED (VICE CAPTAIN)
3) SULAIMON RUNSEWE
4)OLALEYE ELIJAH
5) IKAIGE MIRACLE
6) JIMOH ABDULRAHMAN
7) OCHE BONIFACE
8) DANLADI ISAAC
9) AHO PETER
10) ISESELE AKHERE
11) MBA SAMUEL
12) ABOLARIN ABDULRASHEED
13) UBOH IFEANYI
14) AUDU SHEHU ISIAKA
15) AKHIGBE MIRACLE
DEVELOPMENT PLAYERS ON STANDBY
16) NWOKIKE NZUBE
17) ONWUBUALILI CHIDI
18) USENI PROSPER
TEAM OFFICIALS
1) COACH – OGBIMI CLIVE UTHE
2) TEAM MANAGER – OCHE ONOJA JOSEPH