Nigeria Turn To 2027 Regional Final After Unbeaten Home Campaign
NIGERIA will go into the 2027 Africa Regional Final for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028 after winning all five of their matches at the Sub-Regional Africa Qualifier C in Abuja.
The hosts beat Gambia by 160 runs, Zambia by nine wickets, and Mozambique and Lesotho by seven wickets each. They completed the campaign with a one-run win over Uganda on Sunday.
Head coach Steve Mangongo, whose appointment took effect in July, said the final match showed what his squad could do under pressure.
“I’m pretty surprised by their strong resolve in real game situation, in competition phase, their abilities to execute and eventually beat a seasoned side like Uganda,” he told Cricket Africa.
Uganda, who finished second, will also advance. At the Regional Final, the two sides will join Kenya, Tanzania, Ghana and Rwanda, who qualified through Africa’s first two sub-regional events, with places at the 2028 World Cup at stake.
Nigeria’s campaign was built on their opening pair. Isaac Danladi scored 223 runs in three innings and was named Player of the Match against Zambia and Uganda. Selim Salau scored 206 runs in four innings, including 105 not out against Gambia.
With the ball, Isaac Okpe took nine wickets, including four for three against Mozambique, and captain Chima Akachukwu took six. Sixteen-year-old Abdullahi Ismail took five.
Nigeria used 16 players across the five matches. Mohameed Taiwo led the side against Mozambique in Akachukwu’s absence.
The men’s qualification adds to a year in which Nigeria’s Under-19 women also secured a World Cup place. They beat Zimbabwe in the Africa Qualifier final in Dar es Salaam in September to reach the 2027 ICC Under-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh and Nepal.
