Women's T20I Invitational returns to Lagos
The Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) has confirmed the return of the Women’s T20I Invitational Tournament, set to take centre stage in Lagos from March 18 to 29.
Nigeria’s Female Yellow Greens will host Ghana, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, and newcomers South Africa U-19 women’s team at the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval, as the tournament expands to a five-team competition.
Ghana, who last featured in the tournament in 2023, make a return, while Rwanda and Sierra Leone appear for the second consecutive time. The South Africa U-19 women’s side will be making their debut, adding fresh depth and competitiveness to the field.
Originally launched as a bilateral series with Rwanda, the tournament was not held in 2024 due to the federation’s congested calendar. Its return, however, underlines the NCF’s renewed focus on strengthening the women’s game through consistent, high-quality competition.
According to the federation, this year’s edition will serve as a high-performance platform aimed at sharpening the Female Yellow Greens ahead of major international engagements.
“The tournament is expected to attract strong regional competition while providing valuable match exposure for elite and emerging female players ahead of key international engagements,” the NCF said in a statement.
Nigeria claimed their maiden title in 2023 before relinquishing the crown to Tanzania in 2024, while Rwanda lifted the trophy in 2022.
Beyond the women’s invitational, the NCF is also ramping up preparations for the seventh edition of the National U-17 Championship for boys and girls. Zonal qualifiers are scheduled to run from February 10 to 23 across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.
“The zonal qualifiers form a vital part of Nigeria’s cricket development pathway, offering young players a structured environment to test their skills against peers from other states,” the federation noted. “For many, it is a first taste of high-pressure, multi-state competition.”
The National U-17 Championship has proven instrumental in unearthing new talent, with several graduates progressing to represent Nigeria on the global stage, including at the ICC Women’s U-19 T20 World Cup in Malaysia.
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