WINDHOEK: The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier is set to commence in Namibia on August 31, with eight teams competing for two spots in the Global Qualifier stage.
Matches will be staged at the newly built FNB Namibia Cricket Ground and the refurbished HP Cricket Oval. The participating sides are hosts Namibia, Zimbabwe, Uganda, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Rwanda and Sierra Leone.
Zimbabwe enter the competition as the highest-ranked team, while Namibia are expected to benefit from home conditions. Uganda will look to build on their recent progress in ICC events, while Rwanda and Sierra Leone — both promoted from Division 2 earlier this year — aim to make an impression at the top tier.
Nigeria, whose squad was finalised in Lagos, trained in Benin City under head coach Leke Oyede. He described the opening fixtures against Sierra Leone and Namibia as crucial. “If we start strong, we can secure a place in the semis and move on,” he said, reiterating the team’s target of qualification.
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Kenya and Tanzania are also tipped to provide strong competition, while Rwanda and Sierra Leone hope to use their recent momentum to upset established rivals.
The qualifier will conclude on September 7 after group matches, semi-finals and playoffs. The top two teams will progress to the Global Qualifier later this year, which serves as the final pathway to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in England.
