Nigeria’s U19 female cricket team, the Junior YellowGreens, will on Saturday, January 18, 2025, begin their 2025 ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup campaign against fellow debutants Samoa at Borneo Cricket Ground, Sarawak in Malaysia.

This year’s event is scheduled to take place from January 18 to February 2, marking the tournament’s second edition, following a successful inaugural event in South Africa in 2023, where India won the title.

Boasting a wealth of experience, key players Captain Piety Lucky, Lillian Udeh, Peculiar Agboya, and Christabel Chukwuonye will spearhead the team’s campaign. Fresh from their historic bronze medal triumph at the African Games in Ghana, these talented youngsters are poised to make a lasting impact in Malaysia.

As a form of preparation ahead of the games proper, the Nigerian girls played against Pakistan and Scotland and showcased resilience and potential, losing against the former and bouncing back to win against the latter.

Coach Sarah Bakhita reflected on the match, saying, “The warm-up matches have hinted at what we should expect at the tournament proper. Game-winning builds confidence, and we hope to perform better in the coming games.”

The competition will see 16 teams divided across four groups in the opening stage of the tournament. 41 matches will be played in a 16-day period. Each squad has 15 players, accounting for 240 cricketers who will represent their sides in Malaysia.

Nigeria, drawn in Group C, will face Samoa on January 18 at 3:30 AM (WAT), New Zealand on January 20 at 3:30 AM (WAT), and South Africa on January 22 at 7:30 AM (WAT).

Reigning champions India are in Group A with hosts Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and West Indies. Neighbours England and Ireland join Pakistan and the USA in Group B. Finally, Australia, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Scotland comprise Group D.

Here is the squad list for Nigeria’s Group C:

Nigeria: Lucky Piety (c), Adeshola Adekunle, Peculiar Agboya, Anointed Akhigbe, Amusa Kehinde, Deborah Bassey (wk), Jessica Bieni, Christabel Chukwuonye, Omosigho Eguakun, Victory Igbinedion, Naomi Memeh, Beauty Oguai, Lilian Ude, Usen Peace, Umoh Inyene.

New Zealand: Tash Wakelin (C), Elizabeth Buchanan, Kate Chandler, Sophie Court, Hannah Francis, Kate Irwin, Rishika Jaswal, Louisa Kotkamp, Ayaan Lambat, Emma McLeod, Hannah O’Connor, Darcy-Rose Prasad, Anika Tauwhare, Anika Todd, Eve Wolland.

Samoa: Avetia Fetu Mapu (c), Olive Lefaga Lemoe, Verra Farane, Angel Sootaga So, Norah-Jade Salima, Stefania Pauga, Jane Tali’ilagi Manase, Masina Tafea, Silepea Polataivao, Katrina Uiese Taa Samu, Stella Sagalala, Barbara Ella Keresoma, Apolonia K Polataivao, Selina Lilo, Sala Viliamu.

South Africa: Kayla Reyneke (c), Jemma Botha, Fay Cowling, Jae-Leigh Filander, Mona-Lisa Legodi, Simoné Lourens, Karabo Meso, Seshnie Naidu, Nthabiseng Nini, Luyanda Nzuza, Diara Ramlakan, Diedré van Rensburg, Mieke van Voorst, Ashleigh van Wyk, Chanel Venter.

The Junior Female Nigeria National Cricket team’s participation in this event follows the country’s men’s U-19 team, which qualified for the 2019 World Cup in South Africa.

Nitin Bathi of the Netherlands and Saleema Imtiaz of Pakistan will serve as umpires in the game against Samoa.