Nigeria’s quest for a place at the 2026 ICC U-19 World Cup began on a disappointing note as the Junior Yellow Greens suffered a narrow 10-run defeat to Namibia in their opening match at the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval in Lagos on Friday.
As the host nation, Nigeria is competing in the final stage of the ICC Africa qualifiers, alongside five other teams, all vying for the sole ticket to the global tournament.
Namibia’s captain, Francois Du Plessis, won the toss and opted to bat first, putting Nigeria’s fielding unit to the test. While the Junior Yellow Greens’ bowlers made an early impact, Namibia steadily built their innings, reaching just 50 runs after 16 overs.
Ukasha Isiyaku delivered a stellar performance with the ball, taking an impressive five wickets for just five runs. Azeez Warees also played a crucial role, claiming three wickets. Despite Nigeria’s strong bowling display, Namibia managed to put up a total of 133/10 in 47.5 overs. Max Heingo was their top scorer, contributing 22 runs off 20 balls.
Chasing 134 for victory, Nigeria’s innings got off to a promising start, with Rahmon Ali leading the charge. Coach Daniel Gim’s side cruised to 50 runs in just 9.4 overs, but the momentum shifted when Ali was dismissed by Du Plessis in the 14th over.
Ali put up a valiant fight, scoring 53 runs off 46 balls, including four boundaries and three sixes. However, his effort wasn’t enough to carry Nigeria to victory, as the team was bowled out for 123 in 40.2 overs, allowing Namibia to secure their first win of the tournament.
Nigeria will have a chance to bounce back when they face Tanzania in their next match on Sunday, while Namibia is set to play Sierra Leone on Saturday at the UNILAG cricket oval.
Elsewhere, Kenya made a strong statement in their opening match, delivering a dominant performance to secure a 58-run victory over Sierra Leone.
