Nigeria’s men’s U-19 cricket team, the Junior Yellow Greens, have successfully secured their place in Division 1 of the African Qualifiers for the 2026 ICC U-19 World Cup.
Nigeria achieved this milestone by defeating Rwanda by seven wickets in the third-place match of the Division 2 qualifiers held in Tanzania.
In the crucial match, Rwanda batted first but struggled against Nigeria’s bowling attack, managing only 45 runs in 23.4 overs.
Nigeria’s captain, Gafar Kareem, led the charge with an outstanding performance, bowling 5.4 overs, conceding just eight runs, and taking four wickets.
In the second innings, Nigeria made quick work of their target, scoring 46 runs for the loss of three wickets in just 12.3 overs, securing a comfortable victory.
This win ensured Nigeria’s progression to Division 1, joining Sierra Leone and hosts Tanzania in the next phase of the qualifiers.
Earlier in the tournament, Nigeria suffered a nine-wicket defeat to Sierra Leone in the semi-finals.
However, the Junior Yellow Greens had previously set a tournament record with a commanding performance against Mozambique, scoring the highest total of the tournament with 362 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 50 overs at the Gymkhana Ground.
The team’s strong showing in Tanzania has put them back on track for a spot in the 2026 ICC U-19 World Cup, which will be played in Zimbabwe and Namibia.
