The Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) is set to host the Rwanda Female National Cricket Team on a one-week Tour of the country between January 23 and 30, 2019 in Abuja.
The event is taking for the first time ever.
The tour is the first leg of a bilateral international friendly series between both countries and will be taking place at the newly constructed turf wicket pitch at the National Stadium, Package B in Abuja.
The return leg is scheduled for June 2019 in Kigali.
President of the Federation, Professor Yahaya Ukwenya said: “this development is a major achievement for Nigeria Cricket and a pointer that the strides being made by the Federation is becoming more evident across the continent.
“This bilateral series between Nigeria and Rwanda being the first of its kind for Female Cricket in Nigeria and the whole of North-west Africa, is geared towards creating awareness for Women Cricket in Africa, increase the level of Female involvement in the game, providing opportunity for more Female tournaments in the continent as well as foster diplomatic relationship among member Countries,” he said.
In preparation for the Tour, the Nigeria Female National team has been camped in Kaduna state for the last three weeks for players to jostle for slots in the team that will engage the Rwandan team in the six match encounters scheduled during the visit.
Uyi Akpata, the Vice President of the Federation said that the Rwandan Tour of Nigeria provides an opportunity for the team to be tested in skill and depth, while also using this platform as an early preparation pathway to the busy schedule lined up for the rest of the year especially now that the Nigeria National Female team have also been invited for the first time by the International Cricket Council (ICC) to take part in the ICC Women’s world cup Africa Qualifier later this year in Zimbabwe.
As part of the general objective to make this event an all-encompassing encounter, the Nigeria Cricket Federations have also invited technical officials from Ghana to be part of the playing control teamfor the Series. The Ghana Cricket Association have acknowledged and confirmed availability of their officials.
Among other things, the Rwandan Tour will also be a boost for the growing interest in Female Cricket across the country with 25 states currently involved in grassroot development as well as active participation at intermediary and senior level.
Most of the players presently in the National team for this encounter were drawn from the National youth games for U-15, The National U-17 girl’s championship, National Women’s championship and the National Sports Festival.
The Rwandan Tour of Nigeria will see the visiting team take on the home side on a 6-match series that will consist of one (1) ODI 40 overs match and Five (5)T-20 matches.
