NCF Hosts 7th U-17 Championship as 36 States Compete

By Arinzechi Chukwunonso

The Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) has announced that all is now set for the 7th edition of its flagship National Under-17 Cricket Championship, with zonal qualifiers scheduled to take place across the country.

This year’s championship will feature participation from 36 states, competing in zonal preliminaries to determine the best teams that will represent their respective zones in both the Boys and Girls categories.

Recognised as the biggest age-grade cricket tournament in Nigeria and the North West African region, the National U-17 Championship continues to serve as a critical talent development platform. The competition has consistently produced players who have gone on to represent Nigeria at the highest levels.

According to the Federation, over 70 per cent of the current senior Men’s and Women’s National Teams emerged from the U-17 structure, while the entire composition of the national Under-19 teams both male and female are products of the championship.

Zonal Qualification Dates

Action across the six zones will unfold as follows:

North Central: February 26 – March 1, 2026

North West: February 25 – March 1, 2026

North East: February 25 – March 1, 2026

South West: February 18 – 21, 2026

South East: February 18 – 22, 2026

South-South: February 25 – March 1, 2026

Host Centres Confirmed

The North Central qualifiers will be held at the twin cricket oval of the MKO Abiola Stadium, Package B, Abuja.

Kaduna State will host the North West zone, while Adamawa State will welcome teams from the North East.

In the southern region, Edo State will stage the South-South qualifiers. Government College, Owerri will host the South East zone, while Ogun State will serve as host for the South West competition.

With grassroots development remaining a central pillar of Nigerian cricket’s rapid growth, the 2026 edition promises to unearth another generation of stars eager to follow in the footsteps of those currently flying the nation’s flag on the international stage.