Nigeria’s senior women’s cricket team the Female Yellow Greens will aim to revive their hopes of making it to the 2024 T20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates and Bangladesh when they face arch rivals Rwanda in a must-win game at the ongoing qualifiers in Uganda on Tuesday (today).
The Female Yellow Greens need a win against the Rwandans to remain in contention for a spot in their group after starting the qualifiers with a nine-run defeat against Namibia on Sunday. Their opponents are also in a similar situation, having lost their opening game by six wickets against hosts Uganda.
Today’s game will be the third meeting between Nigeria and Rwanda this year with one win each for both sides. Nigeria, however, grabbed the biggest win so far between them, beating Leonard Nhamburo’s ladies by nine runs to win the NCF Women’s T20i in Lagos earlier this year.
With a place at the World Cup at stake, Nigeria’s coach Leke Oyede remains confident as they go shoulder-to-shoulder with Rwanda in Entebbe.
“I think it is too early to judge our chances by the first game. We have ringed some changes in the team since the last time we played in Lagos. And the players, despite playing a tough Namibia side, gave a good account of themselves,” Oyede said after Sunday’s game.
“We remain focused on the goal and we are looking forward to reigniting our chances.”
Nigeria captain Blessing Etim, who reached 50 T20i caps against Namibia, said the team was poised to take their chances against their rivals.
“The team is in good shape; the momentum is high and going forward to the next game with a great mindset. Rwanda are familiar foes and we won’t let our guards down against them,” Etim told our correspondent.
A win will see Nigeria keep up the pressure on hosts Uganda and Namibia, who also face off today ahead of the last round of group games.
The top two teams from each group progress into the qualifiers’ semi-finals while the two finalists will pick the World Cup tickets.
