In a historic achievement for Nigerian sports, the country’s women’s cricket team, nicknamed the “Yellow Greens,” captured the bronze medal at the ongoing African Games 2023 in Accra, Ghana.
The Nigerian cricketers defeated Uganda by 3 wickets in the third-place playoff match, marking the first time the West African nation has ever won a medal in cricket at a multi-sport event of the African Games’ stature.
Cricket has traditionally been overshadowed by sports like soccer, athletics, and basketball in Nigeria. However, this breakthrough bronze could be a watershed moment that unlocks new interest and investment in the game across Africa’s most populous nation.
In the third-place match in Accra, Nigeria’s Yellow Greens held their nerves against the more fancied Ugandan side to chase down the target of 115 runs in the final over of an edge-of-the-seat contest.
Opening batter Samantha Agazuma top-scored with 45 runs, while Toki Tomwang took 3 wickets to restrict Uganda. The Yellow Greens’ fielding and commitment in the crucial knockout game also drew praise from experts.
Nigeria’s achievement comes at a time when women’s cricket is witnessing steady growth and rising standards across African nations like Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and Rwanda.
