Zimbabwe Defeat Nigeria in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier

By Arinzechi Chukwunonso

The Female Yellow Greens of Nigeria ended their group stage campaign at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier in Windhoek, Namibia with a 10-wicket defeat to Zimbabwe on Wednesday.

Batting first, Nigeria struggled against the disciplined Zimbabwean bowling attack and were dismissed for 90 runs in 19.5 overs. Despite a confident start, wickets fell at regular intervals, with Zimbabwe’s J. Nkomo producing a remarkable spell of bowling to return figures of 5 wickets for just 6 runs in her four overs. For Nigeria, Sarah Etim stood out with a composed knock of 25 off 22 balls, while Omonkhobhio Oseyande (16 off 10 balls) and captain Peculiar Agboya (12 off 16 balls) added useful contributions. However, the inability to forge lasting partnerships proved costly for the West Africans.

In reply, Zimbabwe’s openers showcased composure and authority, chasing down the target with ease. K. Ndlovu struck 44 runs from 46 balls, while M. Mapachikwa supported with 36 off 40 balls, as the pair combined for an unbeaten opening stand. They reached 93 without loss in 14.2 overs, leaving the Nigerian bowlers without reward despite their spirited effort.

The result confirmed Zimbabwe’s strong progress from Group A, while Nigeria finished third in the pool after recording one earlier victory in the tournament. The Female Yellow Greens will now face Kenya, who placed fourth in Group B, in the classification round. Beyond the quest for World Cup qualification, the matches also contribute significantly to ICC global rankings, providing Nigeria with an opportunity to strengthen their profile on the international stage.

Despite the setback, the Nigerian side displayed resilience and glimpses of quality throughout the group phase, gaining valuable exposure against some of Africa’s top teams. This experience, according to the Nigeria Cricket Federation, represents an important step in the team’s long-term development and competitive growth.