In Match 12 of the ICC Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier 2026 at the NTS, TCA Cricket Arena in Dar-es-Salaam, Nigeria Under-19 produced an all-round masterclass to outclass host nation Tanzania Under-19. Powered by a crucial half-century from Player of the Match Omosigho Eguakun and supported by disciplined bowling, the Junior Female YellowGreens asserted complete control throughout the game.
Opting to bat first, Nigeria U19 encountered an early hiccup when opener Beauty Oguai was clean-bowled by Maria Massawe for just 1 run off 2 balls in the second over. Tanzanian bowler Massawe struck again almost immediately, removing captain Christabel Chukwuonye for 4 off 3 balls (1 four), reducing Nigeria to 16/2. However, Omosigho Eguakun and Chisom Okpe initiated a recovery, stringing together a steady 43-run 3rd-wicket partnership.
Okpe chipped in with 7 runs off 11 balls (1 four) before a sharp piece of fielding by Sabrina Jaffu led to her run-out. Usen Peace then joined Eguakun to build the defining stand of the innings, sharing a superb 42-run 4th-wicket partnership. Eguakun anchored the batting flawlessly, smashing 50 runs off 46 deliveries decorated with 7 boundary fours before falling to Lightness Eladius.
Tanzania fought back briefly when Eladius caught and bowled Shola Adekunle for a golden duck (0 off 1 ball) on the very next delivery. Peace continued her solid knock, accumulating 32 runs off 35 balls with 4 fours before Rebeca Martin trapped her. Late in the innings, Deborah Bassey added vital quick runs, firing a rapid 14 off 8 balls (3 fours) before being clean-bowled by Sabrina Jaffu. Inyene Umoh (7* off 11 balls) and Annointed Akhigbe (4* off 4 balls) remained unbeaten alongside 14 extras (11 wide, 1 no-ball, 1 leg bye, 1 bye), carrying Nigeria to a formidable 133/7 in their allocated 20.0 overs.
For Tanzania U19, Maria Massawe led the attack with 2/20 in 4 overs, mirrored by Lightness Eladius with 2/20 in 4 overs. Rebeca Martin took 1/19 (4 overs) and Sabrina Jaffu claimed 1/18 (3 overs), while Dorice Helmet (0/26 in 2 overs), Amina Kheri (0/12 in 1 over), and Rahima Kibwana (0/17 in 2 overs) went wicketless.
Faced with a steep chase of 134, Tanzania U19 made a cautious start but quickly lost momentum. Opener Rebeca Martin fell for a 5-ball duck to Shola Adekunle, caught by Lightness Eladius at 4/1. Rahima Kibwana and captain Saumu Hussein attempted to steady the ship, constructing a 30-run 2nd-wicket partnership before Chisom Okpe broke the stand by trapping Kibwana lbw for 21 off 33 balls (4 fours). Disastrous miscommunication then saw Lightness Eladius run out for a 1-ball duck without adding to the scoreboard at 34/3. Nzela Magembe stepped up to assist Hussein in a 27-run 4th-wicket stand, making 12 off 17 balls (2 fours) before being caught by Chukwuonye off Okpe.
Hussein top-scored for her team with 29 runs off 40 balls (1 four) but was run out by Okpe at 63/5, sparking a quick collapse. Jennifer Godwin immediately struck twice, trapping Mwanaidi Mohammed Athumani lbw for 1 off 5 balls and bowling Amina Kheri, who struck a quickfire 7 off 5 balls with 1 six. Glory Idiahi added further pressure by bowling Joan Jackson for 2 off 8 balls. Sabrina Jaffu (2* off 5 balls) and Dorice Helmet (1* off 1 ball) saw out the rest of the overs, but Tanzania was restricted to 76/8 in 20.0 overs.
Nigeria’s bowling attack was extremely economical: Chisom Okpe took 2/14 (4 overs) and Jennifer Godwin picked up 2/9 (2 overs). Shola Adekunle impressed with 1/9 in 4 overs (including a maiden), Glory Idiahi took 1/4 in 1 over, while Usen Peace (0/12 in 4 overs), Annointed Akhigbe (0/23 in 3 overs), and Christabel Chukwuonye (0/5 in 2 overs) kept tight control to seal a decisive 57-run victory.
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