Nigeria’s Female YellowGreens ended their campaign at the 2026 Kwibuka Women’s T20I Tournament on a winning note after defeating Brazil by two wickets to claim the bronze medal in Kigali, Rwanda.
The Nigerian side produced a spirited performance at the Gahanga International Stadium to secure a third-place finish in the prestigious tournament, bouncing back from a difficult run of results to leave Rwanda with a place on the podium.
After winning the toss and electing to field, Nigeria’s bowlers delivered a disciplined display to dismiss Brazil for 85 in 20 overs. The Female YellowGreens then survived a tense chase to reach 87 for eight in 19.2 overs, sealing victory with four balls to spare.
The foundation for the win was laid by an impressive bowling effort led by Christabel Chukwuonye, who was named Player of the Match after returning figures of three wickets for 13 runs, including a maiden over.
Oseyande Omonkhobho, Shola Adekunle and Rachael Samson claimed two wickets apiece, while captain Favour Eseigbe also contributed with a wicket as Nigeria kept the Brazilian batters under pressure throughout the innings.
Chasing a modest target, Nigeria’s batters were made to work hard by the Brazilian bowling attack, which claimed regular wickets to keep the contest alive.
However, Adekunle steadied the innings with a crucial knock of 26 runs, while skipper Eseigbe remained unbeaten on 19 to guide the team home and secure the bronze medal.
Speaking after the victory, Eseigbe said the team approached the playoff match with determination after suffering several defeats earlier in the tournament.
“We lost about four games before this third-place match, but going into this game, we had high momentum. It was a final push for us because we told ourselves we would either take something home or go home empty,” she said.
“We decided to come out all out, and I must commend the girls for their efforts. We are very excited that our efforts paid off, and we’ll build on it from here.”
The captain attributed the victory to a collective team effort and singled out Chukwuonye for praise after her match-winning bowling display.
“Today, everybody worked. Yesterday, a few people didn’t come to the party, but today everybody was involved, and everybody was encouraging each other. It was a team effort,” Eseigbe added.
“However, I must give it up for Christabel Chukwuonye, who took three wickets and bowled a maiden over. She has been doing it from the very first match to this very match, and that’s commendable.”
She also thanked Nigerian cricket fans for their unwavering support throughout the competition.
“We see them, and we appreciate their support. Even on the days we should have won our matches, they didn’t give up on us and kept supporting us. We want to say thank you for your constant and continuous support.”
For Chukwuonye, the individual award was a reward for perseverance after battling injuries during the tournament.
“It’s very satisfying because I could get encouragement from my teammates. It wasn’t easy at first, but I was able to get through with the motivation and support from the team,” she said.
“From the beginning of the tournament, I had a lot of injuries, but I was able to overcome them.”
The all-rounder also revealed that her faith helped her remain calm during crucial moments of the game.
“It’s thanks to God. There’s always a Bible verse I recite whenever I’m tense or under pressure. Whenever I recite that verse, I feel an overwhelming calmness, and it goes a long way.”
Looking ahead, Chukwuonye said the team would take valuable lessons from the tournament into future competitions.
“There are a lot of positives from this tournament. Taking those positives back home will help us as a team and as individuals. We’ll work on the areas we need to improve and bounce back stronger in the next tournament.”
The bronze-medal finish further highlights the steady progress of Nigerian women’s cricket and underlines the growing competitiveness of the Female YellowGreens on the international stage.
The Nigeria Cricket Federation congratulated the players, coaches, support staff and fans for their contributions to what it described as another memorable chapter in the development of women’s cricket in the country.
Source: Sports Archives – New Telegraph
