Nigeria Beat Botswana, Lift Cricket WCQ Trophy in Abuja

Nigeria men’s cricket team, the Yellow -Greens have emerged the winner of the International Cricket Council T20 World Cup Sub-regional Africa Qualifier C concluded at the cricket oval of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja yesterday.

Nigeria beat Botswana by 77 runs to seal their unbeaten run in the five-match World Cup Qualifier.

The Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, who was present at the final match, described the “victory as a perfect ending to a brilliant showing by the team” put in place by the Nigeria Cricket Federation led by Uyi Akpata.

He said:  “I am very impressed at the level of professionalism displayed and this is what we encourage as a Commission. Nigeria didn’t just qualify and win the event, the NCF team that staged this T20 World Cup qualifiers  have  shown leadership and professionalism and we are very proud of them.”

Olopade said the Nigerian cricket has consistently shown potential for social development.

“We must commend the leadership of Nigeria Cricket Federation. Our Under19 girls would be at the Cricket World Cup in Malaysia in January, and now our boys are through to the last stage of the 2025 T20 Men’s World Cup. They deserve all the support we can give them. And as a commission, we are determined to give support to other sports other than the popular ones,” the NSC DG assured the NCF.

President of the NCF, Uyi Akpata, said that hosting these African countries in Abuja during the series has thrown up Nigeria as cricket destination beside investment in talent development.

“We are excited to have hosted these countries; Botswana, Côte d’Ivoire, Eswatini, St. Helena and Sierra Leone. I believe the quality of our grounds and our organization have clearly communicated our readiness to host more top- class cricket events,” Akpata said.

In the match between Nigeria and Botswana, the host country’s Yellow-Greens won the toss and elected to bat first, and set 13.00 in the first over to signal a high scorning inning. Tharindu Perera, stepped up the wicket of opener Selim Salau 1(4) with the last ball of the second over douse the two quick overs.

Isaac Danladi came on and paired Sulaimon Runsewe to a partnership of 140. Danladi’s brilliant knock of 80 off 45 along with Runsewe’s 74 off 53 kept Nigeria in contention and sent pressure to the Baggy Blues of Botswana.

The Yellow-Greens did not sweat much as the 181/5 score simply put the game beyond the visitors. They were all out for 104 in 18.2 overs. Nigeria won by 77 runs.

In earlier matches, St. Helena beat Côte d’Ivoire by 10 wickets to seal the 5th spot on the log while Sierra Leone ran through Eswatini in 12.3 overs winning with 109 runs.

Nigeria and Botswana are now to meet successful teams from the earlier qualifiers (Tanzania, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Kenya) and Africa’s representatives at the 2024 Men’s T20 World Cup who are drawn bye (Namibia and Uganda) to  will jostle for Africa’s two spots at the Men’s T20 World Cup in 2025.