Ghana Cricket team eager for Nigeria visit

Ghanaian Cricket chiefs say the tour to the country by Nigeria’s national Cricket team at Easter will be a very useful training exercise for Ghana’s cricket teams. Nigeria which are a level above Ghana in the African cricket zone are expected in the country as guests of their Ghanaian counterparts and will play on April 2, 3 and 4 at the Achimota School oval.

Mr. Prince Vanderpuije Orgle, Chairman of the Ghana Cricket Association has told SportsInGhana.com that the visit by the Nigerians will not only be good for the nation’s senior team but also the U-19 side which will enjoy the privilege of playing against the Nigerian senior side.

“It is a very great opportunity for our young players to learn a lot because the Nigerians are much experienced and better than us. Even the senior team will gain immensely from playing against such top level opposition,” Mr. Orgle, popularly called Van Pee said.

According to the Ghana Cricket boss, Nigeria’s quality far transcends that of Ghana because apart from beating the Ghanaians when the two West African countries last met in South Africa two years ago, Nigeria have also since been on tour in England compared to no such exposure for the Ghanaian side. He has also cautioned that there is no home advantage with regards to Cricket, but pure quality.

“Nigeria will come with just 16 players but we can use more than 20 players because it is a friendly tournament. This gives us the opportunity to try out some of our U-19 players against such experienced players. It will help both the seniors and U-19s in preparations for their major tournaments coming up,” Van Pee added.

The Ghana senior cricket team are scheduled for a tournament in South Africa on April 23rd whilst the U-19s are preparing for a tournament in May which could be hosted by either Ghana, Nigeria or Swaziland. The various national teams have been training fervently in Achimota ahead of the visit by the Nigerians in April.