Nigeria’s The senior men’s cricket team, the Yellow Greens, struggled in their first game of the ongoing 2023 African Games in Ghana, losing by 47 runs against Tanzania at the Achimota Cricket Oval on Sunday. PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Four days after the women’s event ended at the same venue with Nigeria winning a historic bronze, the men began hostilities on Sunday with Nigeria taking on Tanzania in one of the simultaneous opening games in Group B.
Tanzania won the toss and chose to bat first, scoring 131 runs for the loss of six wickets in 20 overs which was a tough task for Nigeria to chase in the second innings. Joshua Asia, however, performed well in bowling by taking three wickets.
Opening batters Sulaimon Runshewe and his partner Daniel Ajekun didn’t last as a pair in the crease and the introduction of Samson Adedeji who got 25 runs did little to steady the ship as Nigeria managed 84 runs all out in 18.3 overs.
The Yellow Greens now have a lot to do in their second game against Namibia on Monday (today), to improve their chances of making it to the semi-finals.
Both Nigeria and Namibia are without wins in their first Group B games as the Richelieu Eagles also lost their opening match against Zimbabwe by 35 runs at the twin oval.
In the other game on Monday, Zimbabwe and Tanzania will also face each other.
Similar to the female Yellow Greens, Steve Tikolo’s men are the lowest-ranked team among the men’s teams at the African Games.
