Nigeria’s Junior YellowGreens have secured a return to Division One of the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Africa Qualifier after finishing runners-up in the Division 2 tournament in Rwanda.
A press statement signed by Zeal Ibe, Media Manager, Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), on August 15, 2026 said, the Junior YellowGreens capped an impressive campaign with a commanding 165-run victory over Sierra Leone at Gahanga B Oval in Kigali, ending the competition with four wins from five matches.
Nigeria produced one of its strongest performances of the tournament in the final game, posting 311 for nine in 50 overs before dismissing Sierra Leone for 146 in 45.5 overs.
The emphatic victory sealed second place for Nigeria and confirmed the team’s promotion back to Division One, where the level of competition will be considerably higher.
Boniface Leads Batting Charge
The final match belonged to Keneth Boniface, who delivered a stunning unbeaten century to propel Nigeria to a formidable total.
Boniface smashed 100 not out from just 74 balls, striking 10 fours and three sixes at a blistering strike rate of 135.14.
He received valuable support from captain Ali Rahmon, who anchored the innings with a composed 74 from 88 deliveries, including six fours and two sixes.
Peculiar Egemasi added 33 runs, while Hossana Omonkhobhio contributed 30 and Abdullahi Ismail made 19 as Nigeria recovered strongly through the middle and closing stages of the innings.
Their efforts ensured the Junior YellowGreens finished with 311 runs on the board, leaving Sierra Leone a daunting target of 312 for victory.
Bowlers Complete the Job
Nigeria’s bowlers then completed the job with an equally disciplined display.
Daniel Ayodele was outstanding, claiming three wickets for 22 runs from eight overs, including two maidens. Pelumi Orimolade also took three wickets, conceding just 15 runs, while Abdullahi Ismail claimed two wickets for 28 runs.
Sierra Leone struggled to build sustained partnerships and were eventually bowled out for 146 in 45.5 overs.
Sahr Lebbie top-scored for Sierra Leone with 41 runs, while Ibrahim K Bangura added 27.
Four Wins From Five
Nigeria’s campaign was defined by consistency and resilience, with the Junior YellowGreens winning four of their five matches.
The team demonstrated an ability to win in different conditions and through different aspects of the game, combining aggressive batting, disciplined bowling and composed performances under pressure.
The final victory provided an appropriate conclusion to a tournament in which the young Nigerians steadily grew in confidence.
More importantly, the second-place finish represents a significant step in Nigeria’s continued development of its next generation of cricketers.
Division One Awaits
Nigeria’s return to Division One will bring a tougher challenge, with the Junior YellowGreens set to compete alongside Namibia, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda.
The higher division will demand greater consistency and a higher level of performance from the young Nigerians, but their Rwanda campaign has provided a strong foundation.
For a team that arrived in Rwanda determined to earn promotion, the Junior YellowGreens can now celebrate a successful mission.
They leave the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Africa Qualifier Division 2 as runners-up, with four victories from five matches and, most importantly, a ticket back to Division One.
Nigeria is back in Division One — and the next chapter of the Junior YellowGreens’ journey begins.
