The Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) has announced its 14-player squad for the Nigeria Women’s Twenty20 International (T20I) invitational in Lagos.

In a statement on Wednesday, Musa Ehizoje, the NCF spokesperson, said the players selected were a blend of youth and experience.

He, however, pointed out that a sizable number of them were from the national under-19 team.

The team has been in camp for three weeks in Benin ahead of the event beginning on Monday.

“Ahead of the games of the invitational, the senior women’s team have been through a regime of intense training to select the final 14 that will be flying the nation’s colours,” the federation official said.

He stated that Blessing Etim, the country’s longest-serving player and the most capped, would lead the team as captain, while Favour Esiegbe has been named vice-captain.

“Young batting sensation Lucky Piety and bowling prodigy Lillian Ude have also been drafted into the team from the under-19 team,’’ Ehizoje added.

Meanwhile, teams from five countries are expected to participate in this year’s event, with hosts Nigeria being joined by defending champions Rwanda, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Cameroon.

Nigeria will open her campaign against West African arch-rivals, Sierra Leone, on Monday.

All competition matches have been scheduled for the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) Cricket Oval.

The final list

1 Blessing Etim (Captain)

2 Favour Eseigbe (Vice-captain)

3 Abigail Igbobie (Wicket Keeper)

4 Salome Sunday

5 Lucky Piety

6 Esther Sandy

7 Sarah Etim

8 Agatha Uadiale

9 Racheal Samson

10 Peculiar Agboya

11 Rukayat Abdulrasaq

12 Lilian Ude

13 Adeshola Adekunle

14 Chiyenum George

(NAN)