Ogun unveils cricket teams ahead of sports festival (Full list)
The unveiled Ogun female cricket team
Published By: Isa Isawade
In preparation for the National Sports Festival coming up in January 2025, the Ogun State Cricket Association (OGSCA) has revealed its preliminary squad and newly renovated cricket pavilion to show its readiness for the festival.
The unveiling ceremony, held at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, saw the association bringing light to the refurbished facility, introducing both male and female cricket teams set to represent the state at the festival and symbolic presentation of kits to players by the OGSCA.
Full lists of the male and female squads are given below:
Female squad members:
1. Bakare Kehinde
2. Bakare Taiwo
3. Ogundele Ololade
4. Oduntan Sukurat
5. Oridota Omoyeni
6. Osaghale Elizabeth
7. Onoh Cynthia
8. Olaleye Fatimat
9. Oyeku Abayomi
10. Sunday Olubi
11. Jeremiah Joy
12. Oladejo Victoria
13. Ologuntoye Morenikeji
14. Adedeji Mary
15. Shittu Aisha
16. Habibat Oremeji
17. Olukayode Ayomiposi
18. Gbananja Finda
19. Olisa Mariam
20. Anthony Victoria
21. Awaji Rebecca
22. Abdullahi Naffysat
Female team officials: Akiyade Segun Gbenga, Balogun Adepoju, and Anofiu Salako.
Male squad members:
1. Adebiyi Usman
2. Olayemi Gbenga
3. Obisesam Afeez
4. Adu Bimbo
5. Chuku James
6. Ogunbayo Dayo
7. Adebayo Wasiu
8. Olayinka Segun
9. Oridota Omotayo
10. Olayinka Tope
11. Odesanya Abiodun
12. Ajeku Daniel
13. Segun Ogundipe
14. Femi Oduyebo
15. Abolarin Rasheed
16. Tunde Ayinde
17. Mubarak Beki
18. Gbenga Balale
19. Udekwe Chimelie
20. Okeke Izuchu
21. Adedeji Sessan
Male team officials: Raheem Fata, Adegbola Yemi, Ogunlola Joshua, and Ajeku Daniel.
The male and female teams will be reduced from 22 to 16 players following trials, with the strongest candidates selected to form the state’s final team for T20, six-a-side, and ODI (50 overs) competitions at the games.
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Following the unveiling, the Chairman of the association, Oludare Kuforiji spoke with journalists about the importance of the day.
He highlighted the association’s efforts to prepare the team well ahead of the festival, marking the beginning of camping for both male and female players.
The unveiling of the revamped pavilion and cricket pitch was also a highlight for Kuforiji, with him emphasising the substantial renovations undertaken by the association to bring the facilities to their current standard.
“Our association invested around N30 million in these renovations, all raised independently,” he stated. “We built the access road, replaced the roofing, and secured the pavilion with private security to prevent future vandalism.”
Kuforiji expressed optimism about Ogun’s prospects at the 2024 National Sports Festival, noting an ambitious target of six medals.
The Chairman cited the growth in cricket’s profile since the last time Ogun hosted in 2006 when the team achieved a gold medal and a silver medal. “We are aiming for a minimum of three gold medals,” he affirmed.
The 2024 National Sports Festival, in its 22nd edition, is scheduled to take place from 12 to 25 January 2025 in Ogun State, Nigeria.
Cricket was listed as one of the seven optional events for the games when the Federal Ministry of Sports released the list on 14 October 2024.
