Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) President Uyi Akpata has revealed that the newly built Twin Oval at the MKO Abiola International Stadium in Abeokuta is ready to host international tournaments.
Akpata was impressed with the facility at the just-concluded National Sports Festival, describing it as a “first-of-its-kind” cricket infrastructure in Nigeria.
He also expressed the Federation’s desire to partner with the Ogun State Government and the Ogun State Cricket Association to use the facility.
He said, “This twin oval is truly exciting; it’s rare even across Africa. Only Abuja comes close, and even that was built with a different concept.
“To see this in Abeokuta is inspiring. It’s a huge opportunity. The Ogun State Government has a golden advantage, and the NCF is eager to collaborate and upgrade these pitches to meet international cricket standards. That way, we can bring more high-profile cricket action to Ogun State.”
He was also full of praise for the Ogun State Cricket Association, led by Dare Kuforiji, for their foresight in developing the Twin Oval.
He said, “The first strand of our five imperatives is sustainability, and we know we cannot do this alone.
“But Ogun State has shown the willingness, provided the land, and has demonstrated the commitment through the support of the state cricket association and their experienced personnel.”
Akpata also revealed that with the development of the Twin Oval, Ogun State will now be considered to host top cricket tournaments.
He said, “We’re ready to deploy professional curators to maintain the pitches. In every location where the NCF has partnered with state bodies, the maintenance and standards have improved significantly. Abeokuta will be no different. We’ll identify specific personnel and tackle both the technical and operational aspects.
“With this facility and the intent clearly shown, Ogun State has placed itself on the cricket map of Africa. The future looks bright.”
