After seeing their 2024 ICC T20 World Cup hopes dashed on Monday after a nine-wicket loss to Uganda, Nigeria will only hope to carry on with the steady improvements in their game when they face Zimbabwe in their penultimate game of the African qualifiers on Wednesday (today).
With a win and a share of points from their first two games, Nigeria needed another win against the better-ranked Uganda and laboured to 99 runs all out in 19.1 0vers while the Cricket Cranes chased down the score with 100 runs for just one wicket in 17.3 overs.
The Yellow Greens now have nothing but pride to play for against Zimbabwe who still stand a chance of joining hosts Namibia as the two qualifiers from the series if they beat Nigeria at the Wanderers Cricket Ground.
Nigeria are currently fourth in the table with three points, above Rwanda and Tanzania while Zimbabwe are third with four points from two matches each.
Nigeria went into the series in Namibia seeking a first ever World Cup ticket but the team as well as the Nigeria Cricket Federation will take solace in the players performance so far, while another remarkable outing against Zimbabwe and their last game against hosts Namibia will brighten their chances of an improved ICC rankings.
“We would love to pick the World Cup ticket, but that is a bit difficult now given the results of our matches. We are more focused on using this event as a measure of our continual development programme for the team,” NCF president, Uyi Akpata, said.”
Another board member of the NCF, Tayo Atoloye also commended the team’s performance despite falling short of a World Cup place, “Nigeria is obviously playing better than their ranking presently and this gladdens us and justifies our investments in the team.”
After playing Namibia today, Nigeria’s last game will be against hosts Namibia on Thursday.
