Nigeria’s rise in African women’s cricket has been prominently showcased at the ongoing
Kwibuka T20 Women Cricket Tournament in Kigali, Rwanda.
The Nigerian national team, also known as the Women Yellow Greens, has emerged as the frontrunners in the tournament, securing victories over Rwanda, Botswana, and Kenya in their initial three matches.
In their opening encounter against the host country, Nigeria displayed a dominant
performance, chasing down Rwanda’s score of 87 runs with six wickets to spare at the
Gahanga Cricket Stadium. The Nigerian women exhibited a remarkable show, culminating in a victory in just 18.2 overs. Salome Sunday’s exceptional performance earned her the player of the match award, further bolstering the team’s confidence.
Nigeria’s coach, Leke Oyede, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance and
acknowledged the friendly rivalry that has developed between Nigeria and Rwanda at this
level. Recognizing the need for continuous improvement, Oyede emphasized the team’s
commitment to working harder whenever they face Rwanda, especially after defeating them to win the previous tournament in Lagos.
Continuing their winning streak, Nigeria secured another triumph against Botswana,
defeating them by six wickets. In their afternoon match, they faced off against three-time
tournament winner Kenya, who had set a target of 95 runs.
Nigeria faced a tough battle but managed to achieve a hard-fought victory by three wickets, with 16-year-old Lucky Piety delivering outstanding performances in both matches and earning the player of the match accolade.
With these consecutive wins, Nigeria claimed the top spot on the tournament leaderboard,
remaining undefeated. Their next challenge awaited them in a highly anticipated match
against Uganda, another strong team that had also remained unbeaten after victories
against Botswana and host country Rwanda.
The ongoing Ninth Kwibuka Women’s T20 Tournament features the participation of Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya, Botswana, and Rwanda, with matches being held at the Gahanga and Kicukiro Cricket Ovals in Kigali. Nigeria’s exceptional performance in the tournament
exemplifies their growing influence and signifies their commitment to elevating the status of women’s cricket in Africa.
