Nigeria U-19 cricket national team coach Daniel Gim says his team are prepared mentally as they participate at the 2024 ICC U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifiers in Tanzania beginning on July 23.
The Junior Yellow Greens concluded their preparations for the tournament last Friday ahead of their trip to East Africa where they will slug it out with five other nations: Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Namibia and Sierra Leone.
The team embarked on a two-week camp at the Omtex I Can We Can (ICWC) Cricket Institute in Saphale, India and look to be in good spirits as the young men have been camped in Benin City, Edo State for the last month following that tour.
“Mental preparation and game awareness are things we have been focusing on,” Gim stated.
“Our bowling is our trump card. It should take us over the line with the trio of Prosper Useni, captain Ridwan Abdulkareem and Chiemelie Udekwe at the front. In a round-robin event, everyone is our rival and we will tackle them as they come.”
The Nigeria team will fancy their chances of making it to Sri Lanka next year and will look towards the likes of hard-hitting all-rounder Useni, who boasts of senior international cricket experience and can be a catalyst for victory in games.
Coach Gim will also rely on the prowess of batting duo Selim Salau and Paul Pam.
FULL NIGERIA SQUAD
Joshua Asia, David Abiebhode, Elochukwu Ndubudem, Izuchukwu Okeke, Paul Pam, Ridwan Kareem (Captain), Ridwanullahi Muhammed, Selim Salau, Solomon Chilemanya, Joshua Sunday, Emmanuel Udekwe, Prosper Useni, Gafar Kareem, Chijioke Okeke, Chidi Onwubualili, Victor Samuel.
