Tanzania have qualified for the 2026 Under-19 World Cup. This is the first time that they will feature in the tournament.
Tanzania had won all three matches to qualify for the Africa Division 1 of the 2026 Under-19 World Cup qualifiers in Nigeria. In that six-team round-robin league, they won all five games to make it to the World Cup.
Tanzania had started with a 73-run win against Uganda, whose senior team had created history by qualifying for the 2024 T20 World Cup. Next came a 122-run triumph against hosts Nigeria. After making 154, Tanzania bowled out Nigeria for 32.
A sterner challenge came against Namibia, the strongest team in the group, who went on to finish second. After Mohamedi Simba Mbaki (61 not out) lifted Tanzania from 89-8 to 159, Khalidy Amiri Juma (3-15) led the rout to bowl out Namibia for 142. In the next match, Tanzania made 114 and bowled out Kenya for 60.
By this point Tanzania had as good as qualified, for their last match was against Sierra Leone, who would finish winless in the group. Eyes were on Namibia as well, who drew level with Tanzania on points, and stood a chance in case Sierra Leone pulled off an upset.
However, after captain Laksh Bakrania (53) and Agustino Meya Mwamele (43) added 93 to take Tanzania to 179, Hamza Ally Onai (5-24) helped bowl out Sierra Leone for only 60. Bakrania also chipped in with 2-14. "I am lost for words and it’s unbelievable that we have qualified for the World Cup for the first time in our history," he said after the triumph.
This allowed Tanzania to finish undefeated and qualify for the World Cup for the first time. They will join Zimbabwe (who have automatically qualified as hosts) and based on the 2024 edition’s positions, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and the West Indies.
Tanzania have become the 32nd team to qualify in the 16-edition history of the tournament. This includes two defunct teams, the ICC Associates and the Americas. They will also become the first team to debut since Japan and Nigeria in the 2020 edition.
