Nigeria’s senior men’s cricket team, the Yellow Greens, has advanced to the final series of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup qualifiers with one match to spare, following a commanding performance at the Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier C in Abuja.
The team, led by coach Steve Tikolo, sealed their place on Wednesday after a decisive 29-run victory over Sierra Leone, marking their fourth consecutive win in the tournament.
Botswana also clinched the second automatic qualifying spot, securing a nine-wicket triumph over Eswatini. Both teams now progress to the regional finals, joining Tanzania, Malawi (from Qualifier A), Zimbabwe, Kenya (from Qualifier B), and the African representatives from the last T20 World Cup, Namibia and Uganda, who received byes into the next stage.
While the qualifiers’ top spots are already decided, the final day of matches on Thursday remains pivotal. Sierra Leone will look to bounce back against Eswatini, while Ivory Coast, in their maiden international appearance, aims to conclude with a strong performance against St. Helena.
The marquee match of the day is a showdown between Nigeria and Botswana, with the tournament trophy at stake. Nigeria’s head coach and high-performance manager, Tikolo, expressed confidence in his team’s ability to finish the event on a high.
“We’ve shown consistency in several areas, and the boys are motivated to end on a strong note,” Tikolo said. “The support from the board and the fans here in Abuja has been a huge morale booster for the team.”
The Yellow Greens’ performance highlights their growing strength in African cricket as they aim for a successful campaign in the regional finals.
