Cricket: Winners Emerge At National U-17 Qualifiers

Winners have emerged from the South-West and South-East zones in the ongoing qualifiers for the Nigeria Cricket Federation National U-17 Championships for boys and girls.

The South-West and South-East eliminations were held simultaneously at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena and Government Secondary School, Owerri, Imo State.

In Abeokuta, Ekiti State clinched the top spot in the female category, finishing ahead of Lagos State in second place, while hosts Ogun State settled for third.

In the male category, Lagos State emerged champions, with Oyo State finishing second and Ogun State placing third.

At the South-East qualifiers in Owerri, Ebonyi State dominated the female category, edging out Anambra State, who finished second, while Abia State claimed third position.

In the male category, Imo State secured first place, ahead of Ebonyi State in second and Anambra State in third.

With the conclusion of matches in the two zones, attention now shifts to the remaining four zones as the race to the national finals intensifies.

The North-West zone will stage its matches in Kaduna, while Adamawa State hosts the North-East qualifiers.

Edo State will host the South-South zone, and the North-Central qualifiers will take place at the twin cricket ovals of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium (Package B) in Abuja.

The zonal qualifiers are scheduled to run until March 1, after which outstanding players from the 36 states will converge in Abuja to represent their respective zones at the national championship.