Nigeria secured a 44-run victory over Botswana in the 5th Place Play-off First Semi-Final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Regional Final at the Takashinga Sports Club on Thursday, asserting their dominance in the contest.
Batting first, Nigeria posted a competitive total of 166 for 8 in their allotted 20 overs. Despite early setbacks, the team’s middle order consolidated the innings, ensuring a steady accumulation of runs. A late flurry of boundaries in the death overs propelled the West African side to a score that proved challenging for the opposition.
“Nigeria showed patience and character in the middle overs,” said team analyst Chijioke Okafor. “The way the middle order rebuilt the innings after early wickets was critical in setting a total that Botswana would find difficult to chase.”
In response, Botswana’s batting lineup struggled to counter Nigeria’s disciplined bowling. The visitors were restricted to 122 for 7 in their 20 overs, with Katlo Piet’s 22 off 20 balls standing out as the only notable contribution in an otherwise subdued batting effort. Jack Richards managed just 7 runs from 12 deliveries, and the chase never gained momentum.
Nigeria’s bowling unit, led by Peter Aho and Isaac Okpe, was instrumental in curbing Botswana’s run flow. Okpe, operating in the final overs, completed his spell with figures of 3-0-28-0, maintaining composure under pressure. Aho’s economical spell of 4-0-24-0 further limited the opposition’s scoring opportunities.
“The bowlers executed their plans perfectly,” said head coach Sulaiman Buhari. “Both Peter and Isaac applied consistent pressure and kept the batsmen in check, while our fielders complemented the attack by cutting off runs and maintaining intensity in the outfield.”
Botswana, meanwhile, will be reviewing their missed opportunities with the bat as they continue their campaign in Harare. The outcome leaves Nigeria to advance in the play-offs with renewed confidence, while the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Regional Final continues with remaining fixtures determining spots for the global qualifiers ahead of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Match Summary:
Nigeria: 166/8 (20 overs)
Botswana: 122/7 (20 overs)
Result: Nigeria won by 44 runs
Top Scorer (Botswana): Katlo Piet – 22 (20)
Best Bowler (Nigeria): Peter Aho – 4-0-24-0
