The Junior YellowGreens produced one of their most commanding performances of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Africa Qualifier Division 2, crushing Mozambique U-19 by an astonishing 407 runs at the IPRC Oval in Kigali. After posting a tournament-high 461 runs for six wickets in 50 overs, Nigeria bowled out their opponents for a paltry 54 in 23 overs, delivering a comprehensive display of dominance with both bat and ball.
Nigeria’s batting masterclass was built on a perfect blend of composure and explosive power. Four key contributors-Hossana Omonkhobhio, captain Ali Rahmon, Peculiar Egemasi, and Bright Edem Nyong-accounted for 385 of the team’s runs, representing over 83 percent of the final total.
Opening the innings, Hossana Omonkhobhio delivered a commanding performance to carry the attack deep into the middle overs. He blasted 84 from 73 balls, striking 11 fours and two sixes at a strike rate of 115.07 to establish early authority.
He was ably supported by captain Ali Rahmon, who played a crucial anchoring role. Rahmon contributed a composed 41 off 46 balls, including eight boundaries, helping to establish early momentum. His stabilizing presence at the top of the order laid the perfect platform, allowing the aggressive batters that followed to play with complete freedom.
After the openers departed, Peculiar Egemasi shifted the innings into another gear. He smashed a brilliant 123 from 84 balls, hammering 18 fours and three sixes. Striking at 146.43, his century was a display of controlled aggression that steadily dismantled the Mozambique bowling attack before he fell shortly before the close of the innings.
Then came Bright Edem Nyong, whose extraordinary unbeaten performance turned an already imposing total into a mammoth, record-setting statement. Nyong blasted 137 not out from just 53 deliveries. Showcasing breath-taking power, he hit 11 fours and cleared the ropes with 12 sixes, finishing with a staggering strike rate of 258.49 to push Nigeria to 461/6.
If Nigeria’s batting was ruthless, their bowling was equally unforgiving. Chasing 462 for victory, Mozambique collapsed under sustained pressure and was dismissed for just 54 runs in 23 overs, leaving them with no avenue back into the contest.
Kenneth Boniface led the pace attack, taking three wickets for 13 runs in three overs. Princewill Chigozie produced an outstanding, suffocating spell of two wickets for eight runs from eight overs, which included four maidens. To cap off an already perfect day, Player of the Match Egemasi completed a remarkable all-round performance by taking three wickets for just one run in a single over to clean up the tail.
Beyond the emphatic margin of victory, the result has significantly bolstered Nigeria’s qualification hopes. The win moves the Junior YellowGreens into second position on the tournament log, serving as a powerful reminder of the quality emerging from Nigeria’s U19 pathway.
With one final fixture against Sierra Leone U19 remaining, Nigeria has given itself a strong platform to finish the campaign on a high and secure its progression.