ICC T20 WCASRQ C
Uganda Results Thus Far
Uganda 195/6 | Zambia 108/10
Uganda won by 87 runs.
Lesotho 87/10 | Uganda 89/5
Uganda won by five wickets.
The Gambia 27/10 | Uganda 28/0
Uganda won by 10 wickets.
Mozambique 19/10 | Uganda 23/0
Uganda won by 10 wickets.
ABUJA. Uganda’s ruthless march through the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier C has secured them a place in next year’s Africa Regional Final, but the Cricket Cranes must now prove they belong among the continent’s elite if they are to return to the global stage.
By press time, Uganda had won all four of their matches in Abuja, dismantling Zambia, Lesotho, The Gambia and Mozambique to claim one of the two qualification slots available at the six-team tournament.
Yet qualification is only the first hurdle. Having missed the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the Cranes’ ambitions now rest on navigating a tougher Regional Final in 2027, where Africa’s leading sides will battle for places at the 2028 global showpiece in Australia and New Zealand.
Uganda’s only appearance at the T20 World Cup came in 2024, when they made their debut in the West Indies and the United States. Returning to that stage will require more than dominance against lower-ranked opposition; it will demand consistency against Africa’s strongest sides.
Qualification is only step one
The Cranes confirmed their place in the Regional Final with back-to-back 10-wicket demolitions of The Gambia and Mozambique, but their campaign had begun with a more conventional statement of intent.
They opened with an 87-run victory over Zambia before overcoming Lesotho by five wickets. The two emphatic wins over The Gambia and Mozambique followed, ensuring Uganda were on top of the standings on eight points – same with hosts Nigeria – but with a better Net Run Rate (NRR) of 6.5589.
The tournament’s top two teams join Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana and Tanzania, who had already secured their places through the first two sub-regional qualifiers.
That six-team contest will represent the next step in Uganda’s journey towards the 2028 World Cup, where the margin for error is likely to be much smaller.
Miyaji, Kasaija run riot
Uganda’s latest demolition provided another reminder of their bowling depth. Mozambique were dismissed for just 19 in 7.2 overs on Saturday, with Juma Miyaji claiming a career-best 5/7 in four overs and Enock Kasaija returning 4/4 in 2.2 overs.
The chase was even more brutal. Robinson Obuya struck an unbeaten 16 while Raghav Dhawan made seven not out from two balls, including a six. Uganda raced to 23 without loss in just five deliveries.
For Miyaji, the performance was a personal milestone after he earned his 50th T20I cap earlier in the tournament.
‘The idea was to bowl straight. Once they missed, I hit. That is why all my wickets were bowled. This has been a very fruitful tournament for me. In the first game, I earned my 50th T20I cap and in my second game, I picked five for seven,’ Man of Match (MOM) Miyaji said after receiving the match ball.
’57 is also my jersey number and it’s my lucky omen. We will look to keep the same discipline against Nigeria in the last match so that we win the trophy.’
Nigeria offers a sterner test
The Cricket Cranes’ dominant record in Abuja set up a meeting with hosts Nigeria, the other unbeaten side in the competition, in yesterday’s late evening final fixture.
Nigeria had also won their first four matches, including a seven-wicket victory over Mozambique and a seven-wicket win against Lesotho. Their earlier victories over The Gambia and Zambia had underlined their batting firepower.
The meeting offered Uganda an opportunity to measure themselves against a side that had matched their winning run and to compete for the tournament
Whatever the outcome in Abuja, the bigger assignment awaits in the Africa Regional Final. Uganda have demonstrated their ability to dominate opponents at this level; the challenge now is to carry that authority into the next phase and move one step closer to another World Cup appearance.
THE TALKING POINT
Bigger Picture. Four wins have delivered Uganda qualification for the Africa Regional Final, but the Cranes’ real ambition is a return to the T20 World Cup after their 2024 debut. The next stage will pit them against Rwanda, Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania and the other qualifier from Abuja.
POINTS TABLE STANDINGS
ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier C
Team P W L NR Pts NRR
Uganda 4 4 0 0 8 6.5589
Nigeria 4 4 0 0 8 6.1666
Zambia 4 2 2 0 4 0.3018
Lesotho 4 1 3 0 2 -1.8224
Mozambique 4 1 3 0 2 -3.7309
The Gambia 4 0 4 0 0 -5.7563