Nigeria has clinched Africa’s only ticket to the International Cricket Council (ICC) Under 19 Women’s World Cup in Malaysia 2025. The announcement came after the final match against Zimbabwe was abandoned due to heavy rain.
The match, held at Gahanga International Stadium in Kigali, saw Nigeria win the toss and choose to bat, scoring 77 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 20 overs. Zimbabwe started their chase strongly with 19 runs for 1 wicket in 2.3 overs before rain halted play.
ICC officials subsequently declared Nigeria the winner for being the only unbeaten team in the qualifiers, having topped their group.
Uyi Akpata, President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), expressed gratitude for the players’ dedication and the support from board members and coaches. He acknowledged that the upcoming World Cup presents a greater challenge, emphasizing the need for more resources and a solid plan for a successful campaign.
Nigeria’s path to victory included wins over Tanzania, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, and a semi-final victory against host Rwanda by 62 runs before the final was washed out