Nigeria made a strong start to the Nigeria Cricket Federation Quadrangular T20 Series on Monday, recording victories over Sierra Leone and Ghana at the Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval in Lagos.
Nigeria A opened the day with a 33-run win over Sierra Leone before the senior national team completed an eight-wicket victory against Ghana in the second match.
Nigeria A, sent in to bat first, posted 113/8 in their allotted 20 overs. Olayinka Olaleye top-scored with 25 runs from 32 balls, while Mohammed Taiwo provided late impetus with an unbeaten 28 off 20 deliveries. Hosannah Omonhhobhio also contributed 13 from 11 balls.
Sierra Leone struggled to mount a response and were bowled out for 80 in 19.5 overs. Elochukwu Ndubudem led Nigeria A’s bowling attack with three wickets for just 10 runs in four overs, while Mustapha Yussuf also claimed three wickets and Gafar Kareem added two.
Ndubudem’s all-round contribution earned him the Player of the Match award as Nigeria A secured a comfortable 33-run victory.
In the second encounter, the senior Yellow Greens restricted Ghana to 91/9 after the West Africans elected to bat following the toss.
Judah Solomon offered the strongest resistance for Ghana with 35 runs from 44 balls, while Philip Yevugah added 15 from 11 deliveries. Nigeria’s bowlers maintained pressure throughout the innings, with Miracle Akhigbe taking 2/14 from four overs and Chima Akachukwu claiming 2/10 in three overs. Peter Aho and Ridwan Abdulkareem also picked up a wicket each.
Nigeria then completed the chase with seven overs to spare, reaching 95/2 in just 13 overs.
Isaac Danladi was the standout batsman, remaining unbeaten on 52 from 41 balls, with his innings featuring six fours and a six. Akhigbe finished the job with an unbeaten 19 off 11 deliveries, including two sixes, to seal Nigeria’s eight-wicket triumph.
The tournament continues on Tuesday with another double-header. Ghana will take on Sierra Leone in the opening match before Nigeria A face the senior Nigeria side in an all-Nigerian contest.
The quadrangular series is also providing valuable preparation for Nigeria ahead of upcoming international assignments, including the 2028 T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional C Qualifier, which is scheduled to be held in Abuja from October 18 to 25.
The Yellow Greens are currently working under new high-performance manager Stephen Mangongo, who was unveiled by the Nigeria Cricket Federation in May after signing a three-year contract.
Mangongo succeeded Kenyan coach Steve Tikolo, who departed earlier in the year following more than three years in charge of the national team.
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