With just one point between them, the summit of Group C is up for grabs between Nigeria and South Africa as both countries face off in one of the final group games at the 2025 ICC U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup in Malaysia, on Wednesday (today), The PUNCH reports.
Nigeria’s Junior Female Yellow Greens announced their presence at the tournament on Monday, beating test-playing nation New Zealand by two runs, giving the country a historic first win at the global level.
After two wins in their first two games, South Africa lead Nigeria by one point, no thanks to the washout of the Junior Female Yellow Greens’ game against Samoa but today’s match isn’t short of a top-of-the-table clash as the winner takes the lead into the Super 6 stage.
It will also be the second meeting of both countries since the African Games last year when they met in the group stages.
Head coach of the Nigeria female U-19 cricket team, Sarah Bakhita, who was the senior team’s mentor in Ghana fancies her team’s chance of turning the tide against the South Africans.
“Definitely, we have to go back to the drawing board because there are certain things we could have done better. We have to fine-tune because South Africa is one experienced team,” the Kenyan said after the win against New Zealand.
“Again, we do not underestimate ourselves, we know we are capable, so it’s just stepping up and going hard. South Africa is big and we know what we can do. We are fighters and we will give a tough one to them.”
In Ghana, Nigeria were bowled out for 74 as South Africa’s legspinner Seshnie Naidu, who is now part of their current U-19 World Cup squad, took four wickets for 13 runs. Nigeria had South Africa at 66 for six wickets at one stage and made them work until the 15th over for the win.
Lillian Ude, who bowled the last over in the win over New Zealand on Monday also took five wickets for 18 runs against South Africa the last time out and finished as the highest wicket-taker in the competition.
All eyes will also be on captain Piety Lucky who won the Player of The Match award against New Zealand.
A win for Nigeria today will mark another landmark in Nigerian cricket history as the Junior Yellow Greens are looking good to advance to the Super 6 stage of the World Cup already.
