The stage is set for the National Women’s Championship Finals, 2024. According to the release from the NCF secretariat, the event which will be held at the NCF Pitches 1 and 2 of the MKO Abiola Stadium, Package B Abuja promises to be another cracker.
Lagos, Kogi, Gombe and Kaduna states that have qualified to represent South West, North Central, North East and North West respectively, will be joined by the winners of South East and South South who are expected to have their playoff 3rd to 6th of Oct 2024.
To make up the required 8 teams for the ICC Scorecard, the runners-up of South West and South South qualifiers would be expected to produce teams for the encounter.
The Women’s event will be a prelude to the ICC T20 Men’s African Qualifier C expected to be held on the same twin pitches from 20th to 30th November 2024.
Due to the crowded event for the last quarter of 2024, the Men’s version of the Championship will now be held in the first quarter of 2025 to enable teams to prepare for the 50-overs format of the game. The National Sports Festival is also expected to be held in 2025, indicating that many domestic events are lined up for 2025.
The NCF National Women’s and Men’s Cricket Championships are like the Olympics of the Nigeria Cricket Federation.
NCF is also putting all plans in place to use the National Women’s Finals as a period to launch the ICC Women’s Criiio Festival.
Emeka Igwilo
GM, NCF