Match 8: Nigeria Women vs Rwanda Women - Squads, Preview and Live Streaming Details

The hosts, Nigeria, come into this Nigeria Women’s T20I Invitational fixture with the weight of expectation on their shoulders, but they’ve shown they can handle the pressure of playing at the Tafawa Balewa Square. They are a well-drilled side, relying on a solid core of players who have spent plenty of time together in the national setup. Rwanda, meanwhile, arrives as a complete unit and a hat-trick of wins to their name. The game is scheduled for March 24, 2026, at Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval, Lagos, starting 6:30 PM Indian Standard Time (IST).

Squads:

Nigeria Women’s Cricket Team

Anointed Akhigbe, Christabel Chukwuonye, Esther Sandy, Favour Effiong, Henrietta Mbam, Kehinde Amusa, Lilian Ude, Peace Usen, Piety Lucky, Queen Joseph, Salome Sunday, Sarah Etim, Shola Adekunle, Victory Igbinedion, Omosigho Eguakun

Rwanda Women’s Cricket Team

Alice Ikuzwe, Belise Murekatete, Fanny Utagushimaninde, Flora Irakoze, Geovanis Uwase, Rosette Shimwamana, Rosine Irera, Sylivie Usabyimana, Clarisse Umutoniwase, Gisele Ishimwe, Henriette T. Ishimwe, Marie Diane Bimenyimana (C), Merveille Uwase, Shakila Niyomuhoza

Players to watch out:

Piety Lucky

The Nigerian captain led from the front during the successful chase against the Zimbabwe Under-19 side. She anchored the top order with a steady 21 runs off 19 balls, including four well-timed boundaries that helped settle any early nerves in the camp. Her leadership and composure at the crease ensured Nigeria stayed on track to reach their target with plenty of wickets and overs to spare.

Usen Peace

Peace was the architect of the Zimbabwean collapse, turning the game on its head with a brilliant spell of 3/16. She dismantled the middle order by picking up three vital wickets, including the dangerous Beloved Biza, and even contributed in the field with a sharp run-out. Her Player of the Match performance was a masterclass in disciplined T20 bowling, keeping the visitors restricted to a meager total of 80.

Also Read: Host Nigeria Announce Squad for Women's Invitational T20I 2026

Fanny Utagushimaninde

Fanny made a massive statement on her international debut by becoming the youngest player to score a T20I century. She completely dominated Ghana’s bowling attack, finishing unbeaten on 111 runs from just 65 balls with 17 boundaries. Her aggressive strike rate of 170.77 was the driving force behind Rwanda’s record-breaking total of 210, earning her a well-deserved Player of the Match award.

Belise Murekatete

Belise was the standout performer with the ball during Rwanda’s clinical opening victory. She showed great control and variety, finishing with impressive figures of 3/20 in her four-over spell at an economy of 5.00. Her ability to strike at the death was particularly evident as she cleaned up the tail, including the crucial wicket of the set batter Kate Awuah on the final ball of the match.

Pitch:

The TBS Cricket Oval in Lagos features a modern ten-strip turf wicket that has replaced the old concrete surface, offering a more professional and consistent bounce. Early on, the pitch provides decent carry for seamers, but as the match progresses, it typically dries out to favor spinners who can exploit the natural wear and grip.

Weather:

The conditions in Lagos will be partly sunny with a high of 31°C and a low of 27°C. There is a 45% chance of rain during the day, accompanied by southwest winds at 11 mph.

Fantasy Playing XI:

Anointed Akhigbe, Lilian Ude, Peace Usen, Piety Lucky, Queen Joseph, Salome Sunday, Esther Bakiweyem, Grace Essoun, Grace Quaicoe, Kate Awuah, Rashidatu Salia