Nigeria’s Junior Female YellowGreens will look to complete a perfect start to the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier Division 1 when they face hosts Tanzania on today at 12:00 WAT, having won their opening two matches in the Group A campaign.
The YellowGreens sit top of Group A on four points with a net run rate of 3.467, following a four-wicket win over Uganda and a 94-run rout of Malawi.
Nigeria’s tournament began with a tense chase against Uganda, who were restricted to 59 for seven after winning the toss and batting first. Chisom Okpe (2/4) and Peace Usen (2/12) led a disciplined bowling display, before Uganda’s Tino Sarah hit back with five wickets for 13 runs to unsettle the chase. Nigeria held their nerve to reach 60 for six in 13.1 overs, with Omosigho Eguakun (24) and Christabel Chukwuonye (13) steadying the innings.
Against Malawi on Match Day 2, Nigeria delivered a more emphatic performance, posting 152 for seven after being asked to bat. Shola Adekunle’s 32 off 27 balls anchored the innings alongside contributions from Eguakun (26), Beauty Oguai (26) and captain Chukwuonye, who struck 20 from 12 balls. Nigeria’s attack then dismantled Malawi for 58 in 18.3 overs, with Jennifer Godwin taking four wickets for five runs and Adekunle following her batting effort with figures of two for four to earn Player of the Match.
Today’s fixture against Tanzania offers Nigeria the chance to open a commanding lead in the group ahead of the qualifier’s later stages, with a place in the next round of the global qualification pathway the ultimate target.