Nigeria’s rising cricket stars are taking centre stage in Abuja as the 7th National U-17 Cricket Championship begins with zonal finals at the Cricket Oval of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.
The tournament, sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers, is widely regarded as the largest age-grade cricket competition in Nigeria and across West Africa.
It brings together the country’s most promising young players competing for national honours and opportunities to progress into Nigeria’s senior cricket teams.
Speaking at a pre-tournament press conference in Abuja, the Secretary-General of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, Sani Muhammed, who represented NCF President Prof. Uyi Akpata, highlighted the rapid expansion of the championship since its launch.
According to him, the inaugural edition featured participation from 19 states in the boys’ category and 15 in the girls’ event, with numbers steadily increasing over the years.
By 2022, participation had grown to 25 states in the boys’ category and 21 in the girls’ competition, while the 2023 and 2024 editions recorded 33 states in the boys’ category and 29 in the girls’ event.
“Today, seven years later, we now have all 36 states and the FCT actively participating in this year’s edition,” Muhammed said.
He explained that the championship has become a key pathway for nurturing national team players, noting that several athletes discovered through the competition have gone on to represent Nigeria internationally.
Muhammed also commended PwC for its sustained support, describing the partnership as instrumental in expanding the reach and quality of the competition.
Representing the title sponsor, PwC’s Habeeb Jaiyeola reaffirmed the firm’s commitment to youth development through sport.
“As people focused on building strong institutions, we believe that investing in youth through sports helps build the character needed for national development,” Jaiyeola said.
He revealed that between 60 and 70 percent of Nigeria’s current male and female national cricket players emerged from the championship, underscoring its importance as a major talent pipeline for the sport.
Adding a new dimension to the competition, PwC Manager Nnene Ezeah announced that this year’s boys’ tournament will be played under standards aligned with global international ratings, a move aimed at preparing Nigerian youth cricketers for higher-level international competition.
With participation from all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory and enhanced technical standards, the 2026 National U-17 Cricket Championship is expected to deliver intense competition while continuing to shape the future of cricket in Nigeria.
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