Nigeria’s men’s cricket team, the Yellow Greens, began their ICC T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Qualifier C campaign in spectacular fashion, cruising to a 118-run victory over St Helena at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja on Saturday.
Batting first, Nigeria posted an imposing 185/2 in their 20 overs, with decisive contributions from their top-order batters.
In response, St Helena struggled to gain any foothold, bowled out for just 67 runs in 19.1 overs, as Nigeria’s bowling attack proved too strong to handle.
The resounding win cements the Yellow Greens’ status as tournament favourites, especially as the highest-ranked team in the qualifiers at 36th on the ICC T20 rankings. The victory also underscores head coach Steve Tikolo’s ambitions for the side to not just qualify but dominate the qualifiers en route to the final phase.
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“Our goal is not just to qualify but to win the tournament and prepare for the next round as champions,” Tikolo said before the tournament opener.In other games played on Saturday, Botswana defeated Eswatini by 45 runs, scoring 172/4 in their 20 overs before dismissing their opponents for 124 in 18.4 overs. Meanwhile, Sierra Leone showcased an even more emphatic display, thrashing Ivory Coast by a staggering 168 runs. Sierra Leone posted 188/2 in their 20 overs and skittled out the Ivorians for a paltry 20 runs in just 10.4 overs.
The Yellow Greens will next face Eswatini on Monday before meeting Sierra Leone on Tuesday and Botswana on Wednesday in what promises to be a competitive round of matches.
The top two teams from this sub-regional qualifier will advance to the final phase, where two spots are up for grabs to represent Africa at the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup alongside South Africa.
With home support and their sights firmly set on World Cup qualification, the Yellow Greens have started their campaign on a commanding note, showcasing their intent to dominate on their home turf.
