Ali Rahmon seeks improvements after Nigeria beat Rwanda

Junior Yellow Greens captain Ali Rahmon has expressed satisfaction with his team's seven-wicket victory over hosts Rwanda at the ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Africa Division 2 Qualifiers. Nigeria secured the win at Gahanga Oval by reaching 84 runs for the loss of three wickets in 15.2 overs. This result followed their previous five-wicket win against Ghana, marking two consecutive victories for the squad.

Despite the win, Rahmon identified specific weaknesses within the batting unit. He noted that the team lost too many wickets while chasing a target of 94 runs. The captain also observed that the bowling attack failed to secure the early wickets they had initially planned for to apply pressure on the opposition.

During the match, Rwanda batted first and was dismissed for 79 runs in 23.1 overs. Nigeria's bowling performance prevented the hosts from building momentum, allowing the Junior Yellow Greens to chase the target with relative ease. This turnaround follows an opening-day defeat to Uganda earlier in the tournament.

Nigeria is currently working to revive its qualification hopes for the 2028 ICC U19 Men’s Cricket World Cup. The recent wins have provided momentum after their initial loss.

Rahmon emphasized the need for focus as the team prepares for its remaining fixtures. The Junior Yellow Greens will next face Mozambique before concluding their campaign against Sierra Leone. The captain believes these upcoming matches will present significant challenges to their ability to qualify.