Cricket: Nigeria, Botswana qualify for 2025 Africa Regional T20 World Cup final

With one match to spare, hosts, Nigeria and Botswana have secured the top two spots at the ongoing International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup sub-Regional Africa Qualifier C in Abuja.

The two teams, who have been unbeaten after four games, now join Tanzania, Malawi (from Qualifier A), Zimbabwe, Kenya (from Qualifier B), and the two African representatives at the last T20 World Cup; Namibia and Uganda, in the regional finals.

Despite the two spots already decided, the closing event will see all six countries dueling on the closing day of the sub-regional final. The Patrons of Sierra Leone will be hoping to redeem themselves against Eswatini after losing to Botswana and Nigeria in earlier fixtures. Also, the Ivorian men’s team will be hoping to deliver their best performance against St. Helena, to assuage their fans after the heavy losses that their maiden international appearance has earned them so far.

The biggest game, however, is the afternoon match between Nigeria and Botswana, where the winner will lift the tournament’s trophy. Nigeria’s Coach, Stephen Tikolo, who is also the country’s high-performance manager, is confident that the Yellow Greens have all it takes to finish strong at the event.

“We have been consistent on so many fronts and I believe the boys are motivated to finish the event on a high. We have had support from the board and the fans here that have come to cheer the team and it has been a morale booster for us,” he said.

Nigeria’s match with Sierra Leone yesterday was the West African derby that ushered in hostilities on Match Day 4 of the event.The Lansana Lamin-led Sierra Leonean side needed a win to stay in the qualifying race, but they crumbled in the face of the highly technical Nigerian