Dominant Displays As NCF National U-17 Championship Finals Kick Off In Abuja

The 7th NCF National U-17 Championship Finals exploded into action on Wednesday in Abuja, with the South-South and South-West regions immediately asserting their dominance in both the Boys’ and Girls’ categories, delivering a masterclass in clinical cricket.

Girls’ Category: South-South and South-East Secure Early Victories

At the NCF Pitch, the South-South Female team, perennial favourites, showcased their prowess. After winning the toss and opting to field, their bowling attack dismantled North-Central, skittling them for just 67 runs. Precious Okonkwo starred with figures of 3/14, ably supported by Praise Onaghise (2/7). Glory Idiahi then anchored the chase with a brisk 31 off 20 balls, guiding South-South to a comfortable 7-wicket victory in just 8 overs.

In a more tightly contested affair, South-East Female edged out North-West by 3 wickets. Despite spirited efforts from North-West’s Faith Godwin and Mary Ezekiel, Godgift Ezeali’s crucial knock of 28 runs helped South-East successfully chase down a target of 77.

Boys’ Category: Clinical South-South and Resilient South-West Lead the Pack

The Boys’ Super League witnessed a bowling clinic from the South-South Male side, who routed North-Central for a mere 38 runs in 19.5 overs. Praise Chizea and Chigozie Princewill proved unplayable, each claiming 3 wickets with remarkable economy rates. South-South knocked off the runs in just 7.2 overs to secure a commanding 6-wicket win.

In the afternoon fixture, South-West Male displayed excellent all-around temperament against South-East. Batting first, South-West posted a competitive 135/9 in their 25 overs, spearheaded by Olayinka Hamzat’s aggressive 34 off 30 balls. Despite David Ojo’s best efforts for South-East (3 wickets), the South-West bowling attack, led by Emmanuel Oladejo (3/13), proved too strong, bowling South-East out for 92 to claim a 43-run victory.

Match Day 1 Summary Results:

| Category | Match | Teams | Scores | Winner | Margin |

| Boys | 1 | North-Central vs South-South | 38/10 (19.5) vs 40/4 (7.2) | South-South | 6 Wickets |
| Girls | 1 | North-Central vs South-South | 67/10 (18.1) vs 68/3 (8.0) | South-South | 7 Wickets |
| Boys | 2 | South-West vs South-East | 135/9 (25.0) vs 92/10 (21.2) | South-West | 43 Runs |
| Girls | 2 | North-West vs South-East | 76/10 (17.1) vs 77/7 (13.3) | South-East | 3 Wickets |

Upcoming Matches: Thursday, 12th March 2026

Boys:
Match 3: North-Central vs North-West (9:00 AM)
Match 4: South-East vs North-East (2:00 PM)

Girls:
Match 3: South-West vs North-Central (9:00 AM)
Match 4: North-West vs North-East (2:00 PM)