After the conclusion of two Sub-Regional Qualifiers in Rwanda, seven teams are still competing for the two available Africa qualifying spots in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024.
Advancing to the regional final alongside Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Uganda are four teams emerging from the two Sub-Regional Qualifiers: Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Nigeria. These teams will convene in Namibia next year to determine the two sides that will represent Africa in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the USA and the West Indies.
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| icc-cricket.com |
In Sub-Regional Qualifier A, Kenya managed to secure the top position despite challenging weather conditions, while the hosts, Rwanda, held on to the second spot. Rwanda kicked off the tournament by surprising a stronger Botswana side, establishing their Kigali home as an impervious stronghold, only yielding to the team positioned above them in the standings.
Fueled by the momentum gained from their initial success and the overwhelming support from the local fans, the team, led by former Kenya fast-bowler Martin Suji as the coach, continued their winning streak against Saint Helena, Malawi, the Seychelles, and Mali. Their only setback was a nine-wicket defeat against the eventual champions.
Beginning the competition with a T20I ranking of 71st, Rwanda has now climbed to the 65th position after an impressive and resilient campaign led by captain Clinton Rubagumya.
Kenya's campaign faced initial frustration due to adverse weather conditions, resulting in two no-results against Saint Helena and Malawi. However, they regrouped and gained momentum, achieving a decisive 10-wicket victory over Mali, courtesy of an exceptional six-wicket haul by Peter Langat. Kenya continued their success by defeating their Rwandan counterparts, along with triumphs over Lesotho, Botswana, and Seychelles.
Notably, the 41-year-old veteran, Collins Obuya, demonstrated unwavering dedication for Kenya. His outstanding performance was only surpassed by Malawi's Sami Sohail, who clinched the Player of the Tournament title with 241 runs and nine wickets, despite playing his club cricket in the USA.
In Sub-Regional Qualifier B, Tanzania and Nigeria showcased their dominance, rising above the competition and securing the top two positions. Despite a washout in the match between Tanzania and Nigeria that prevented a quasi-final, Tanzania claimed the title with a superior net run rate.
Tanzania's journey began with a rain-reduced chase victory over Sierra Leone, followed by a four-wicket win against Ghana. Kassim Nassoro's composed 26* (27) guided them to another successful chase against Mozambique in a weather-affected match. Two victories on the same day against Eswatini and Gambia positioned them for a title challenge. Left-arm orthodox spinner Yalinde Nkanya emerged as the top wicket-taker of the tournament with 16 wickets, five more than his closest competitors.
The washout against Nigeria confirmed Tanzania's top-two finish, and they sealed the first place with a commanding 184-run victory over Cameroon.
Nigeria, too, remained undefeated with six wins, highlighted by an emphatic eight-wicket triumph against Mozambique. Peter Aho led the bowling attack with 11 wickets, while Ashmit Shreshta was the top run-scorer with 186 runs.
Mozambique, a surprise performer in the group, finished third and only suffered defeats against the two eventual qualifiers. Francis Damiao Couana stood out with both bat and ball, contributing significantly to the team's solid bowling attack with five wickets in addition to scoring 217 runs, the second-highest in the tournament. Teammate Jose Bulele, with 210 runs and nine wickets, earned the Player of the Tournament honors, edging out Couana in a remarkable display of all-round performance.
