Nigeria’s Women’s Cricket National Team, the Female Yellow Greens, has been relegated to division two after losing to Kenya in the classification game.
Nigeria fate was sealed on Thursday in Windhoek, at ICC T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier in Namibia.where they fell to a narrow seven-run defeat against Kenya in the fifth-place classification match.
The loss capped a frustrating campaign for Nigeria, who managed just one win in the tournament.
Kenya, batting first, set a target of 106 after finishing on 105 for seven in their 20 overs.
Nigeria’s Piety Lucky was the standout performer with the ball, claiming two wickets in her four-over spell.
Chasing 106, Lucky again led from the front with the bat, scoring a fighting 35 runs off 29 deliveries.
However, Nigeria’s batting line-up crumbled under pressure as wickets fell at crucial intervals.
Kenya’s Melvin Khagoitsa turned the tide with a decisive four-wicket haul, dismissing Nigeria for 98 in 18.5 overs.
The result confirmed Nigeria’s relegation from Division One, ending their hopes of progressing to the global qualifiers.
Earlier, the Female Yellow Greens had finished third in their group, missing out on the semi-finals and slipping into the classification round.
The Nigeria women national team will now face Sierra Leone in the seventh-place playoff on Saturday, a side they had already beaten in the group stage.
Nigeria entered the tournament with aspirations of qualifying for world Cup global qualifying series.
However, defeats to stronger sides, including Zimbabwe and Namibia dashed those ambitions.
Nigeria yet to qualify for a senior women’s T20 World Cup despite recent success at the under 19 level.
