50 young cricketers to vie National Camp spots as PwC/NCF Championship
With the tournament set to run from Thursday to Sunday in Abuja, all eyes will be on the young cricketers hoping to make their mark
As the sixth edition of the PwC/NCF U-17 National Cricket Championship gets underway in Abuja, the tournament is set to play a crucial role in shaping the future of Nigerian cricket.
According to Joseph Eshua, the Technical Director of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), the competition will serve as a platform to identify 50 male and 50 female players who will be camped for the country’s Under-19 national team.
The championship, which has grown in stature over the years, continues to serve as a key talent development pipeline for Nigerian cricket.
Many of the players who represented Nigeria at the U-19 World Cup in January were discovered through this very tournament, a testament to its impact on grassroots cricket in the country.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the event, Tolu Adeleke, a representative of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), reaffirmed the company’s unwavering support for the growth of cricket in Nigeria.
He praised the NCF for its strong governance structure and strategic planning, which has made their partnership over the past six years both seamless and productive.
"We need to appreciate the NCF. Our partnership with the federation has been rewarding," Adeleke said. "The structure and vision of the NCF have made it easy to work together, and the results speak for themselves. Seeing talents emerge from this competition and go on to represent Nigeria internationally is proof that we are making a difference."
He emphasised that beyond improving the technical skills of young players, the tournament also instills core values such as teamwork, discipline, and friendship, aligning with PwC’s principles.
NCF Secretary-General Sani Muhammed also highlighted PwC’s vital role in nurturing Nigerian cricket talent.
He noted that several players from both the male and female national teams had their first competitive exposure through the PwC/NCF initiative.
The National Sports Commission (NSC) acknowledges and commends organisations like PwC for consistently investing in grassroots development programs," Muhammed said.
"Many of the players who represented Nigeria at the T20 World Cup in Malaysia were products of the PwC initiative. The government remains committed to creating an enabling environment to further elevate the game."
With the tournament set to run from Thursday to Sunday in Abuja, all eyes will be on the young cricketers hoping to make their mark.
As Nigeria continues to develop its cricketing pedigree, the PwC/NCF U-17 Championship remains a cornerstone in discovering and nurturing the next generation of national team stars.
