Nigeria and Uganda meet unbeaten in Abuja with top spot in Africa's last qualifier at stake

Nigeria and Uganda have already sealed the two places on offer at next year's Africa Regional Final, leaving the last match of the Abuja qualifier to settle which of them finishes on top

Hosts Nigeria and Uganda close the ICC Men's T20 World Cup Africa Sub Regional Qualifier C against each other at the Nigeria Cricket Federation Oval 1 in Abuja on Sunday, the only two sides still unbeaten in the tournament.

Each has won all four of its matches in the six-team round robin, and because third-placed Zambia cannot reach their points total, the two tickets to the Africa Regional Final in 2027 were decided before the final day began.

What remains is the qualifier title, and a reading of where each side stands before a regional final they will share with Tanzania, Ghana, Rwanda and Kenya.

Two unbeaten sides with nothing left to qualify for

Nigeria and Uganda have taken eight points apiece from four wins. Zambia, in third on four points, play Mozambique earlier on Sunday and can finish no higher than six.

That arithmetic turned the meeting of the two leaders from an eliminator into a decider for first place, which is the one thing still open in the group.

The match is the fifteenth and last of the qualifier, which began in Abuja on 20 October across the Nigeria Cricket Federation's two ovals.

Uganda's bowlers have been ending games early

Uganda arrive on the back of two ten-wicket wins inside three days. The Gambia were dismissed for 27 in 8.2 overs on Friday and Uganda knocked the runs off in 1.4 overs.

Mozambique fared worse on Saturday, bowled out for 19 in 7.2 overs, with Uganda home in five balls. Seamer Juma Miyagi took 5-7, a career-best return in T20 internationals, and was named player of the match.

"The idea was to bowl straight. Once they missed, I hit. That is why all my wickets were bowled," Miyagi said afterwards, adding that Uganda would "look to keep the same discipline against Nigeria in the last match tomorrow because we want to win the trophy".

Uganda, led by Riazat Ali Shah, were also the only side to beat Lesotho in a low-scoring game, chasing 88 after the Lesotho innings folded for 87.

Nigeria's batting has carried the hosts

Nigeria's week began with the heaviest result of the tournament, 262 for 1 against The Gambia and a win by 160 runs.

Zambia pushed them hardest, posting 142 for 9 before Nigeria answered with 146 for 1 in 14.5 overs. Mozambique were then held to 93 and beaten by seven wickets.

Saturday brought another seven-wicket win, over Lesotho, who were bowled out for 62 before Chima Akachukwu's side finished the chase at 65 for 3 inside eight overs.

Nigeria have therefore won each of their four matches with plenty in hand, which is why the two sides are separated by nothing more than net run rate going into the finale.

Where the qualifier leads

Qualifier C is the last of Africa's three sub-regional events in the qualification pathway for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2028, and the top two here join the four teams who came through the first two.

Tanzania, Ghana, Rwanda and Kenya have already booked their places at the Africa Regional Final, where the continent's remaining World Cup places will be decided in 2027.

Six teams contested the Abuja leg: Lesotho, Mozambique, Nigeria, The Gambia, Uganda and Zambia, in a single round robin of 15 matches.

A home stage for Nigerian cricket

Every match of the qualifier has been played at NCF Oval 1 and Oval 2 in Abuja, with the Nigeria Cricket Federation hosting the last of Africa's three sub-regional events.

"More than just a competition, this tournament is a celebration of Africa's cricketing future," federation president Uyi Akpata said before the event.

All matches are being streamed on ICC.tv, and on FanCode for viewers in India.

Nigeria and Uganda begin the final match of Qualifier C at the Nigeria Cricket Federation Oval 1 in Abuja at 6.30pm IST.

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