Junior Yellow Greens Suffer Defeat to Namibia

Nigeria Falls Short Against Namibia in ICC U-19 World Cup Qualifiers Opener.

The Junior Yellow Greens started their 2026 ICC U-19 World Cup qualification campaign on a disappointing note, suffering a narrow 10-run defeat to Namibia at the Tafawa Balewa Cricket Oval in Lagos on Friday.

Nigeria, hosting the final phase of the ICC Africa qualifiers, is competing alongside five other teams for the sole ticket to the global tournament.

Namibia Sets the Target

Namibia’s captain, Francois Du Plessis, won the toss and opted to bat first, putting Nigeria’s bowlers to the test. Despite a slow start, Namibia steadily built their innings, posting 133/10 in 47.5 overs.

Ukasha Isiyaku starred for Nigeria with a stunning five-wicket haul, conceding just five runs, while Azeez Warees claimed three wickets. However, Namibia’s Max Heingo led their batting effort with 22 runs off 20 balls, giving his team a defendable total.

Junior Yellow Greens’ Chase Falls Short

Nigeria’s chase started brightly, with Rahmon Ali spearheading the innings. Coach Daniel Gim’s side reached 50 runs in just 9.4 overs, but the momentum shifted after Ali was dismissed by Du Plessis in the 14th over.

Ali finished with an impressive 53 runs from 46 balls, hitting four boundaries and three sixes. However, the rest of Nigeria’s batting lineup struggled to capitalize, as they were bowled out for 123 in 40.2 overs, handing Namibia their first victory.

What’s Next?

The Junior Yellow Greens will aim to bounce back when they face Tanzania on Sunday, while Namibia looks to continue their winning form against Sierra’s Leone on Saturday at the UNILAG Cricket Oval.

In another fixture on the opening day, Kenya secured a dominant 58-run victory over Sierra Leone.

Stay tuned for more updates on Nigeria’s U-19 Cricket World Cup qualification journey.