Usen, Ude Keep Nigeria’s Cricket Medal Hope Alive In African Games

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Nigeria’s investment in women’s cricket is fast yielding results and two teenagers, Lilian Ude and Peace Usen, recently discovered in Edo State have kept the medal dream alive as Nigeria qualified for the cricket semifinals events.

Although defeated by South Africa on Sunday, Nigeria qualified through a vital 3 points earlier secure in two games – 1 win, and 1 shared point. Lilian Ude Sunday at Achimota Oval stained Africa’s No.1 ranked cricket team with an indelible mark. 17-year-old Ude recorded 5 dismissals against South Africa in their first encounter.

Peace Usen has only 3 International appearances for the Nigeria Female Yellow Greens but she has recorded 5 wickets dismissals. Peace was added to the team after she won the Best Bowler of the South-South Female Cricket League in February 2024.

The duo and other cream of Nigerian bowlers like Assistant Captain Favour Eseigbe and Shola Adekunle have become a nightmare to the renowned cricket powerhouses.

The Nigeria women’s cricket team previously seen as the underdogs of Group A have qualified to the detriment of Tanzania and
Namibia.

Nigeria will face Zimbabwe in the second semifinal match on Monday afternoon. Ordinarily, the Female Yellow Greens would have been playing for experience but are now bold contenders for gold thanks to the array of teenage budding stars like Peace Usen and Lilian.