Nigeria vs Uganda cricket delivered a one-run thriller in Abuja as Nigeria completed a perfect qualifying campaign and secured a place in the 2027 T20 World Cup Africa Regional Final.
The hosts won all five of their matches at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Africa Qualifier C. Uganda finished second with four victories, meaning both teams secured places in the next stage on the road to the 2028 Men’s T20 World Cup.
According to the ICC, Nigeria posted 148 after being asked to bat first. Isaac Danladi led the innings with 47, giving the home side a competitive total.
Nigeria vs Uganda cricket ends in final-ball thriller
Uganda looked well placed in the chase after captain Riazat Ali Shah struck 60 from 35 balls. They needed only six runs from the final over and appeared close to victory.
However, the match turned in the closing deliveries. An injury stopped Vincent Adewoye from completing the over, so Sylvester Okpe stepped in. Uganda needed three runs to win and two to tie from the last ball, but Nigeria ran out Juma Miyagi as he tried to complete a second run.
The result gave Nigeria their first men’s T20I victory over Uganda and capped an unbeaten tournament for the hosts.
What comes next for Nigeria cricket?
Nigeria and Uganda now join Tanzania, Ghana, Rwanda and Kenya in the six-team Africa Regional Final scheduled for 2027. The top teams there will move closer to a place at the global qualifier for the 2028 T20 World Cup.
Danladi also won the Player of the Series award after scoring 223 runs during the tournament. His performances drove Nigeria’s successful campaign.
The result is another important step for Nigerian cricket as the national team continues to push for a stronger place on the global stage.
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Featured image: Nigerian youth cricketers during the National U-17 Championship in Nigeria. Photo by Atibrarian / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. File photo used to illustrate cricket in Nigeria; it is not from the Nigeria–Uganda match.
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