Nigeria’s dream run at the Under-19 Women’s World Cup came to an end when they missed out on a semi-final berth by a solitary point.
Nigeria’s dream run at the 2025 U19 Women’s T20 World Cup came to an end. After their game against Samoa was washed out, they caused a stir with a two-run win against New Zealand. That win was enough for them to qualify for the Super Sixes despite a 41-run defeat against South Africa in their last league match.
Nigeria’s first match of the Super Sixes, against England, was washed out as well, leaving them on three points from three games. With six points, South Africa were already out of their reach (South Africa got another point after their game against the USA was abandoned). A win against New Zealand, on the other hand, took England to six, eliminating Nigeria.
However, Nigeria still had another match to go, against Ireland at the YSD-UKM Cricket Oval in Bangi. There, opener Christabel Chukwuonye top-scored with a 42-ball 25, while Omosigho Eguakun (17 in 23 balls), Peculiar Agboya (17 not out in 20), and captain Lucky Piety (12 in 11) all reached double figures to help Nigeria post 94-7 in their only game where rain stayed away for long enough to allow them to bat 20 overs. For Ireland, Kia McCartney returned 2-13.
Usen Peace (2-21) struck in the first over in response, but Freya Sargent (14) and Rebecca Lowe (21) kept the chase on track. Lillian Udeh (4-0-11-3) then struck twice, a blow from which Ireland never recovered. Piety (1-10), Adeshola Adekunle (1-15), and Annointed Akhigbe (2-8) all chipped in, and Ireland were 82-9 after 18 overs.
Coming to defend 13 in two overs, Muhibat Amusa began with a wide before conceding a single, but pulled things back with a dot ball. McCartney hit a boundary to bring the target down to 7 from 8 balls, but Amusa had the last word when she bowled McCartney with the next ball.
That helped Nigeria finish with five points, one behind England, who made it to the semi-finals.
It was a remarkable feat for a country from West Africa, an atypical location for a cricketing nation of this quality in a vast continent where the sport is concentrated mostly in the south and the east.
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