Nigeria wins two matches in cricket tournament

Nigeria kicked off their journey in the Nigeria Cricket Federation Quadrangular T20 Series with two wins on Monday. Nigeria A beat Sierra Leone by 33 runs before the senior team won against Ghana by eight wickets at the Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval in Lagos, according to The PUNCH.

In the first match, Nigeria A scored 113 runs for 8 wickets in their 20 overs after being sent to bat first. Olayinka Olaleye was the top scorer with 25 runs off 32 balls. Mohammed Taiwo added a quick 28 runs off 20 balls, while Hosannah Omonhhobhio chipped in with 13 runs from 11 balls to help Nigeria A set a good target.

Sierra Leone found it tough in their response and got bowled out for 80 runs in 19.5 overs. Elochukwu Ndubudem was the standout bowler for Nigeria, taking three wickets for just 10 runs in four overs. Mustapha Yussuf also took three wickets, while Gafar Kareem picked up two wickets.

With this performance, Nigeria A secured a 33-run victory, and Ndubudem was named Player of the Match.

Later in the day, the senior Nigerian team put on a strong performance against Ghana. They limited Ghana to 91 runs for 9 wickets in 20 overs after Ghana won the toss and chose to bat. Judah Solomon was the top scorer for Ghana with 35 runs off 44 balls, while Philip Yevugah made 15 runs off 11 balls.

Nigeria’s bowlers kept the pressure on Ghana throughout the innings. Miracle Akhigbe took two wickets for 14 runs in four overs, and Chima Akachukwu also took two wickets for 10 runs in three overs. Peter Aho and Ridwan Abdulkareem each took one wicket, leading Ghana to finish at 91 runs for 9 wickets.

Nigeria chased down the target in just 13 overs. Isaac Danladi led the team with an unbeaten 52 runs off 41 balls, hitting six fours and a six. Miracle Akhigbe finished the game with an unbeaten 19 runs off 11 balls, including two sixes, as Nigeria reached 95 runs for 2 wickets to win by eight wickets.

The two Nigerian teams, which include a mix of national players and rising talents, will face each other again in the second match of Tuesday’s double-header at the TBS Cricket Oval. Ghana will play Sierra Leone in the first match before Nigeria and Nigeria A meet.

The Yellow Greens aim to use this quadrangular series to prepare for upcoming international matches, especially the 2028 T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional C Qualifier. This qualifier is set to take place in Abuja from October 18 to 25.

The national team has been training under new high-performance manager Stephen Mangongo, who was introduced in May after signing a three-year contract with the Nigeria Cricket Federation.

Mangongo took over from Kenyan coach Steve Tikolo, who left the position earlier this year after more than three years.