Nigeria’s U-19 cricket team lost 10 runs to Namibia in their tournament opener for the ICC World Cup qualifiers. Despite exceptional bowling from Ukasha Isiyaku, who took five wickets, Nigeria fell short in their chase, finishing at 123 runs. They will face Tanzania next, and Namibia will play Sierra Leone soon.
The Junior Yellow Greens of Nigeria faced a challenging start in their pursuit of a 2026 ICC U-19 World Cup qualifying ticket. In their opening match against Namibia, they suffered a narrow defeat by 10 runs at the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval, according to PUNCH Sports Extra. Nigeria is hosting the final phase of the ICC Africa qualifiers, alongside five competing teams for the single qualification spot.
Namibia’s captain, Francois Du Plessis, won the toss and opted to bat first, prompting Nigeria to take to the field. Despite a promising bowling performance from Nigeria’s bowlers, Namibia managed to compile 133 runs before being all out in 47.5 overs. The Nigerian bowler Ukasha Isiyaku excelled, claiming five wickets for only five runs, while Azeez Warees supported with three wickets.
Namibia’s strongest batting performance came from Max Heingo, who scored 22 runs from 20 balls. In response, Nigeria began their innings with Rahmon Ali, who led the way and helped the team reach 50 runs in just 9.4 overs. However, after Ali was dismissed in the 14th over, the team’s momentum faltered. Ali concluded his innings with 53 runs from 46 balls, yet Nigeria could only manage 123 runs, leading to their defeat.
The Junior Yellow Greens are set to compete again on Sunday against Tanzania in their second match of the series. Meanwhile, Namibia will play Sierra Leone in their second game on Saturday at the UNILAG cricket oval. Additionally, on the same opening day, Kenya secured a convincing win against Sierra Leone, triumphing by 58 runs.
Nigeria’s U-19 cricket team encountered a setback in their quest for World Cup qualification, losing their opening match to Namibia by 10 runs. Despite a stellar bowling display, they could not chase down Namibia’s total. With their next match against Tanzania, the team will be eager to bounce back and enhance their chances in the tournament. Namibia’s upcoming game against Sierra Leone presents further opportunities for both teams in the qualifier series.
Original Source: punchng.com
