Again! Nigeria Misses World Cup Spot, Finishes Sixth in Africa Qualifiers

Again! Nigeria Misses World Cup Spot, Finishes Sixth in Africa Qualifiers

By Admin 

 Nigeria’s campaign at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifiers came to a close on Saturday with a 66-run loss to Uganda in the 5th-place playoff, sealing a sixth-place finish for the Yellow Greens, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Uganda set a commanding total of 196 runs for 7 wickets, powered by an unbeaten 66 from Riazat Ali Shah, who anchored the innings with a composed and strategic knock.

In response, Nigeria was restricted to 130 runs for 7 wickets in their 20 overs, falling short of the target despite a fighting effort from team captain Sylvester Okpe, who top-scored with 26 runs and also took two wickets in the match.

Mixed Results for Nigeria

Over the course of the qualifiers, Nigeria recorded victories against Malawi and Botswana, but suffered defeats to Namibia, Kenya, and Uganda, ending the tournament with two wins from five matches.

While the Nigerian side showed flashes of potential, consistency proved elusive in a competitive qualifying field.

Zimbabwe and Namibia Secure World Cup Berths

The African qualification slots for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup were claimed by Zimbabwe and Namibia, both of whom will join South Africa as Africa’s representatives at the global tournament.

Despite falling short, Nigeria’s participation in the qualifiers offered valuable experience for the squad and highlighted areas for growth as the country continues to invest in the development of cricket at the grassroots and elite levels.