Nigeria loses opening game to Kenya, meets Rwanda today

After the narrow loss to Kenya in their opening game of the International Cricket Council (ICC) 2024 T20 World Cup qualifying competition, the senior men’s national team, Yellow Greens, will meet Rwanda in their second game of the event today.

The Yellow-Greens lost their opening match to Kenya by four wickets despite holding the East Africans at bay for a better part of the game. Kenya had won the toss and chosen to field at the United’s Cricket Ground, which left Sylvester Okpe and his teammates scampering for a 121 run in the first inning.

Danladi Isaac posted a decent 46 runs from 46 balls, while Prosper Useni posted 37 from 19 runs to post the two best scores in the inning. Kenya, however, resumed second inning and kept Nigeria at bay for their required 122 runs until the 19th over when Shem Ngoche hit Chiemelie Udekwe for a whopping 19 runs cutting the required runs to five balls in the closing 20th, which of course they hit in 19.5.

Leader of Nigeria’s delegation at the event, Tayo Atoloye, who represents the South West on the board of Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), said the loss was a painful one, given that the win was within reach.

“The 19th was a critical over and we lost it to the experience and the superior strategy needed at the time. But again, there are a lot of positives to take home here. Nigeria’s bowling was great and we fielded better than any match we have played of late,” he said.

Atoloye said the narrow loss masked the general improvements in the Nigerian side, adding that he believes it would inspire the team for success in the next matches.

“Nigeria is obviously playing better than their current ranking and this gladdens us and justifies our investments in the team,” he added. Today’s game