The Nigeria Women’s National Cricket Team, known as the Female Yellow Greens, wrapped up their campaign at the 2025 Kwibuka Women’s T20i Tournament in Kigali, Rwanda, with a string of commendable performances. The team displayed promising form, finishing 5th overall in a field featuring top sides across Africa and beyond.
A Tournament of Ups and Downs
The competition, which ran from June 3 to 14, tested the team’s mettle through close contests and standout wins, ultimately serving as a critical preparatory stage ahead of the ICC Women’s World Cup Africa Division 1 Qualifier set for August in Namibia.
Match 1: Narrow Loss to Zimbabwe HPC
Nigeria opened their campaign with a close 6-run loss to Zimbabwe HPC. After bowling first, Nigeria restricted Zimbabwe to 104/8, thanks to sharp spells from Rachael Samson (3/24) and Lilian Ude (2/10). In reply, Nigeria fell just short, ending at 98/7 despite spirited efforts by Sarah Etim (19) and debutant Kehinde Amusa (17).
Match 2: Rain Spoils Nigeria’s Fightback Against Brazil
Nigeria were bowled out for 92, but their bowlers clawed back into the contest, reducing Brazil to 59/5 before rain interrupted play. Under the DLS method, Brazil claimed a 6-run win.
Match 3: First Victory – A Win Over Tanzania
The team bounced back with a nail-biting 2-wicket win over Tanzania. Chasing 82, Salome Sunday smashed 53 off 36 balls, supported by Esther Sandy and Amusa. The bowling unit again excelled, with Amusa named Player of the Match.
Match 4: Rwanda Outplays Nigeria
Hosts Rwanda asserted their strength, scoring 114/7 and bowling Nigeria out for 74 in 17.3 overs, taking the match by 40 runs.
Match 5: Crushing Win Over Cameroon
Nigeria registered their most dominant performance here, posting 140/4 before bowling Cameroon out for just 38, sealing a commanding 104-run victory.
Match 6: Derby Delight Against Sierra Leone
The West African derby saw Nigeria triumph again, defending a total of 104 by bowling Sierra Leone out for 68. Amusa’s 23 with the bat and 2/7 with the ball earned her another Player of the Match award.
Match 7: Comfortable Win Over Malawi
Posting 107, Nigeria’s bowlers once again delivered as Peace Usen led them to a 46-run win, restricting Malawi to 61/9.
Match 8: Sweet Revenge Against Uganda
In a thrilling rematch of their African Games bronze medal clash, Nigeria edged Uganda by 5 runs. Nigeria posted 73/9 before bowling out Uganda for 68, with Anointed Akhigbe sealing the win with a final-over hat-trick. Akhigbe finished with 3/11, while Samson and Ude contributed significantly with the ball.
Speaking after the tournament, Head Coach Leke Oyede praised the team’s growth:
“This team showed incredible heart. From narrow defeats to massive wins, each match taught us something. Our goal in Rwanda was to grow, test combinations, and compete, and I’m proud of how far we’ve come. Namibia is next—we’ll be ready.”
Looking Ahead:
While the Female Yellow Greens narrowly missed the semi-finals, their campaign has been widely seen as a step forward in their development. With a young, dynamic squad and invaluable exposure from the Kwibuka Tournament, Nigeria now sets its sights on Namibia in August, where qualification for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will be on the line.