Lagos State asserted its dominance at the Southwest Zonal Eliminations of the sixth Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) National U-17 Championships, securing victories in both the male and female categories in emphatic fashion.
In the boys’ final, Team Lagos successfully chased down Oyo U-17’s total of 138 runs, finishing at 142 runs for the loss of three wickets to claim the title. Ogun State secured third place with a convincing eight-wicket victory, having bowled out Osun State for just 23 runs.
The girls’ final was equally thrilling, as Lagos displayed resilience to defend their total of 104/6, edging Ogun State by 15 runs to clinch the championship title. Oyo State’s female team finished in third place, recording a dominant 33-run victory over Osun State.
The competition, which serves as a crucial platform for young cricketers to showcase their talent, saw intense battles across multiple zones. In the South-South eliminations, Edo State and Delta State emerged victorious in the male and female categories, respectively.
Delta State’s girls’ team remained unbeaten throughout the competition, securing wins against Edo, Akwa Ibom, and Cross River to finish at the top with six points.
However, their male counterparts could not replicate the same feat, as Edo State overwhelmed Akwa Ibom with a commanding 75-run win to claim the boys’ title. Delta finished third in the male category, delivering a crushing 188-run victory over Rivers State.
Road to the National Championships
The zonal eliminations, which are being conducted across the six geo-political zones of Nigeria, will determine the final teams that will compete at the National U-17 Championships scheduled to take place in Abuja from February 18 to 23.
Since its inception in 2019, the NCF National U-17 Championships has played a pivotal role in discovering and nurturing young cricketing talents, many of whom have progressed to represent Nigeria at international levels.
Notable players identified through the tournament include Piety Lucky, Lilian Ude, and Peace Usen, alongside 12 other players who featured for Nigeria at the 2025 ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia.
On the men’s side, the championship has also produced key players such as Ridwan Abdulkareem and Prosper Useni, who have since become integral members of Nigeria’s senior national team.
Participation in the tournament has grown significantly over the years. While the first edition in 2019 saw 19 states competing in the boys’ category and 15 states in the girls’ category, those numbers increased to 33 and 29, respectively, in 2023 and 2024.
The 2025 edition is expected to set new records, with first-time participation from Yobe, Adamawa, and Bauchi in the North-East, while Benue State has also made a historic entry into the North-Central zonal qualifiers.
With the regional eliminations nearing completion, the stage is set for the final showdown in Abuja, where Nigeria’s next generation of cricket stars will battle for national glory.
