Nigeria’s YellowGreens made a sensational start to their quest for a place at the 2028 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, crushing Gambia by 160 runs in their opening match of the Africa Sub-Regional Qualifier C in Abuja on Tuesday.
Powered by a magnificent unbeaten century from Selim Salau and explosive contributions from Isaac Danladi and Isaac Okpe, Nigeria posted a formidable 262 for one in 20 overs before dismissing Gambia for 102 in 17.2 overs at the Nigeria Cricket Federation Oval 2 inside the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.
The emphatic victory gave the hosts an early boost in the six-team qualifying competition, which runs until October 26, with the top two teams advancing to the Africa Regional Final in 2027.
After winning the toss and electing to bat, Nigeria immediately demonstrated their attacking intentions, piling pressure on the Gambian bowlers with an innings built around aggressive stroke play and impressive partnerships.
Salau led the charge, finishing unbeaten on 105 from 58 deliveries. His innings featured 12 fours and three sixes, combining controlled batting with timely aggression to give Nigeria a commanding platform.
The century was particularly significant for Salau, who also reached 1,000 career runs in T20 internationals during the match, adding another milestone to an already memorable performance.
Isaac Danladi provided equally valuable support, scoring 86 from 48 balls before being dismissed by David Demba. Danladi struck seven fours and four sixes, ensuring Nigeria maintained a high scoring rate throughout his stay at the crease.
The pair’s partnership laid the foundation for a massive total, leaving Gambia with an enormous task when Nigeria eventually completed their 20 overs on 262 for one.
Isaac Okpe then delivered a remarkable late assault, smashing an unbeaten 56 from just 16 deliveries. His innings included three fours and six sixes, translating into a breathtaking strike rate of 350.
Okpe’s extraordinary finish propelled Nigeria beyond the 250-run mark and left the Gambian side needing 263 runs to secure an unlikely victory.
With the required run rate already daunting, Gambia struggled to build the partnerships necessary to challenge Nigeria’s total.
The visitors were eventually bowled out for 102 in 17.2 overs, handing the YellowGreens a comprehensive victory and a substantial improvement in their net run rate.
Andre Jarju was Gambia’s leading scorer with 39 from 38 balls, while Frank Campbell contributed 25 from 20 deliveries. However, their efforts were insufficient to mount a serious challenge against the hosts.
Nigeria’s bowlers shared the responsibility of dismantling the Gambian batting order. Ridwan Abdulkareem claimed three wickets for just eight runs in four overs, producing an economical spell that restricted Gambia’s attempts to build momentum.
Sylvester Okpe also took three wickets, conceding 26 runs in three overs, while Chima Akachukwu and the rest of the bowling attack helped bring the innings to a close.
Salau’s outstanding century earned him the Player of the Match award, capping a performance that combined individual excellence with a commanding team display.
The result represents an encouraging opening for Nigeria head coach Stephen Mangongo, who had urged his players to remain calm, trust their preparation and execute their plans as the qualification campaign began.
Before the tournament, Mangongo emphasised the importance of translating training into disciplined performances, with Nigeria targeting one of the two available places in the regional final.
The YellowGreens will now look to build on their impressive opening result as they continue their campaign against other teams in the competition, including Zambia, Mozambique, Lesotho and Uganda.
Despite the emphatic victory, consistency will be crucial. Nigeria must maintain their discipline with both bat and ball across the remaining fixtures if they are to finish among the top two teams and advance to the next stage.
For now, however, the hosts have delivered an emphatic statement of intent. With Salau’s century, Danladi’s commanding innings, Okpe’s explosive finish and an effective bowling performance, Nigeria have given their home supporters plenty of reason for optimism as their World Cup qualification campaign gathers momentum.
