Nigeria’s YellowGreens Crush Zambia by Nine Wickets in T20 World Cup Qualifier

Posted : 22 October 2026

Nigeria secured their second consecutive victory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier C, beating Zambia by nine wickets as Isaac Danladi scored an unbeaten 90 and Selim Salau reached 1,063 T20I runs.

Nigeria’s senior men’s cricket team, the YellowGreens, continued their winning run at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier C with a commanding nine-wicket victory over Zambia in Abuja on Wednesday, October 21.

The hosts chased down Zambia’s target of 143 runs, finishing on 146 for one in 14.5 overs. Nigeria reached the target with 31 balls remaining to record their second consecutive victory in the qualifying competition.

Zambia won the toss and elected to bat at the Nigeria Cricket Federation Oval 1. Ismail Kara produced an impressive innings of 82 runs from 44 deliveries, hitting six fours and seven sixes to give his side a competitive total.

However, Nigeria’s bowlers restricted Zambia to 142 for nine in 20 overs. Abdullahi Ismail led the attack with three wickets for just nine runs in four overs, delivering a crucial performance that limited the visitors’ scoring opportunities.

Nigeria’s response was built around a dominant opening partnership between Isaac Danladi and Selim Salau. The pair added 125 runs for the first wicket, putting the hosts firmly in control of the chase.

Danladi was the standout performer, scoring an unbeaten 90 from 47 balls. His innings featured three fours and nine sixes, helping Nigeria maintain an impressive scoring rate throughout the chase.

Salau contributed 50 runs from 39 deliveries, including four fours and two sixes, before being run out in the 14th over. Ali Rahmon then joined Danladi at the crease, and the pair guided Nigeria to victory without further loss.

Danladi’s match-winning innings earned him the Player of the Match award, underlining his importance to Nigeria’s batting line-up.

The match also followed a significant milestone for Salau, who reached 1,000 career T20 International runs for Nigeria during the team’s opening match against The Gambia on October 20. He scored an unbeaten 105 from 58 balls in that contest as Nigeria posted 262 for one and secured a 160-run victory.

His half-century against Zambia took his reported international T20 tally to 1,063 runs, further strengthening Nigeria’s batting options as the tournament progresses.

The YellowGreens have now won their opening two matches, following their emphatic performance against The Gambia. Their next fixture is against Mozambique on Friday, October 23, as they continue their bid to reach the Africa Regional Final.

The six-team competition features Nigeria, Zambia, Uganda, Mozambique, The Gambia and Lesotho. The top two teams will advance to the 2027 Africa Regional Final, the next stage of qualification for the 2028 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Nigeria’s YellowGreens Crush Zambia by Nine Wickets in T20 World Cup Qualifier

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