Nigeria’s Junior Yellow Greens had a rocky start in their bid for a place at the 2026 ICC U-19 World Cup, suffering a narrow 10-run defeat to Namibia in their opening game at the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval, Lagos, on Friday.
As hosts of the final phase of the ICC Africa qualifiers, Nigeria is competing against five other teams for the tournament’s sole qualification spot.
Namibia’s captain, Francois Du Plessis, won the toss and opted to bat first, putting Gafar Kareem and his squad on the field.
Despite a slow start, Namibia steadily built their innings, reaching 50 runs after 16 overs.
Nigeria’s bowlers put in a commendable effort, with Ukasha Isiyaku leading the charge by claiming five wickets for just five runs. Azeez Warees also made an impact with three wickets.
However, Namibia managed to post a total of 133/10 in 47.5 overs, thanks in part to Max Heingo’s 22 runs off 20 balls—their highest batting contribution.
In response, Nigeria’s innings got off to a promising start, with Rahmon Ali spearheading the chase. Coach Daniel Gim’s side raced to 50 runs in under 10 overs, setting the stage for what seemed like a successful pursuit.
However, the tide turned when Ali was caught by Du Plessis in the 14th over.
Ali’s impressive individual performance saw him notch 53 runs off 46 balls, hitting four fours and three sixes, but Nigeria struggled to sustain their momentum.
Their innings concluded at 123/10 in 40.2 overs, handing Namibia their first victory of the qualifiers.
The Junior Yellow Greens will seek redemption on Sunday when they take on Tanzania in their second fixture.
Meanwhile, Namibia will face Sierra Leone on Saturday at the UNILAG cricket oval.
Elsewhere, Kenya made a strong statement in their opener, securing a commanding 58-run victory over Sierra Leone.
