The national netball team – the Green Hawks – continued its gradual progression ahead of full integration into the international comity of netball with a second tune-up match in one week, a game that was played as the headline event of the morning session of the Nigeria Diaspora Multi Sport event held in Hatfield on 17 July.
At the back of the team’s debut showing in Glasgow last week against Commonwealth Games hosts Scotland, it was time for the team to take on their Pakistani counterparts.
In a match that was witnessed by a crowd of diaspora athletes of other sports at the multi sports event including the Director General of the National Sports Commission Hon. Bukola Olopade, the match ended in a maiden victory for the Hawks by 33-12.
The match was part of the event, but also aimed at continuing the preparation of the team for the upcoming Africa series of the 2027 Netball World Cup qualifiers scheduled for Nairobi Kenya in September.
Nigeria is looking to use its first ever netball national team to take part in international competition for the first time and yet qualify for the Netball World Cup in Sydney Australia in 2027.
An excited Director General Bukola Olopade said of his experience watching his first netball game in a long time. Addressing the team, he said ‘that was amazing. I saw a few moves and saw good camaraderie amongst you girls that convinced me that our decision to build a team and to build netball in Nigeria was a good one. You are going to be a part of something big. We are ready to dominate Africa and we will provide all the support you need to get there’.
The coach is being handled by former England international Alison Akinrinlola supported by the former coach of Jamaica netball team, Connie Francis.
Next stop will be Durham in the north east of England, where the Green Hawks will take on the Jamaica national team who are also in preparation for the Commonwealth Games that starts next week in Glasgow.
Jamaica is world number 3 in netball and a game against such formidable opponents will be a sign of intent for what Nigeria wants to do on the international scene.