Nigeria reclaim ICC U19 Division One place after 165-run win

Nigeria secured promotion back to ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Africa Qualifier Division One after defeating Sierra Leone by 165 runs. The Junior YellowGreens made 311 for nine in 50 overs before dismissing Sierra Leone for 146 in 45.5 overs in their final Division Two match in Kigali.

The victory confirmed Nigeria’s second-place finish and completed a tournament in which they won four of five matches. Their return to Division One gives the young side another opportunity to compete at the higher level of African under-19 cricket.

Kenneth Boniface supplied the decisive batting display, reaching an unbeaten century from 74 deliveries. He struck 10 fours and three sixes, finishing with a strike rate of 135.14 as Nigeria added heavily to its total late in the innings.

Captain Ali Rahmon provided the innings with stability, scoring 74 from 88 balls. His contribution included six fours and two sixes, while Peculiar Egemasi made 33, Hossana Omonkhobhio scored 30 and Abdullahi Ismail added 19.

Nigeria’s bowlers then kept Sierra Leone under pressure throughout the chase. Daniel Ayodele took three wickets for 22 runs from eight overs, including two maidens, and Pelumi Orimolade also claimed three wickets, conceding 15 runs. Ismail took two wickets for 28 runs.

Sierra Leone’s resistance produced 146 before the innings ended, with Sahr Lebbie making 41 and Ibrahim K Bangura scoring 27. Nigeria will join Namibia, Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda in Division One, where the result in Kigali has earned the Junior YellowGreens a return to the continent’s stronger youth competition.