Former captain of Nigeria’s men’s Yellow Greens and board member of the Nigeria Cricket Federation, Endurance Ofem, has declared that consistent international exposure remains the fastest route to transforming Nigeria into a major force in world cricket.
Ofem believes the country’s growing reputation in the sport will only continue if players are regularly tested against stronger opposition across the globe.
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“If you want to know where you stand, you have to compete against the best,” Ofem said.
The former national captain explained that international matches provide invaluable experience for young players while exposing areas that require improvement.
According to him, playing quality opposition is the only reliable way to measure the progress of both individual players and the national teams.
“You cannot truly assess your development without facing stronger cricket nations,” he added.
Ofem praised the Nigeria Cricket Federation for expanding opportunities for players through overseas tours and development programmes.
He revealed that Nigerian cricketers have continued to benefit from international exposure in countries including India, Zimbabwe, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Namibia.
“Those experiences are helping our players grow technically, mentally and tactically,” he stated.
The former Yellow Greens skipper believes sustained competition against established cricket nations will prepare Nigeria for bigger challenges while accelerating the country’s rise on the international stage.
He maintained that investing in regular international fixtures and player development remains central to Nigeria’s long-term ambition of competing consistently with the world’s leading cricket nations.
