W’Cup qualifiers: Yellow Greens captain rues Namibia loss
By Daily Sports Nigeria on September 29, 2025
Captain of Nigeria’s male senior cricket team, Sylvester Okpe, has attributed the team’s 117-wicket loss to Namibia in a 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier match on Sunday to their bowling execution, The PUNCH reports.
After an impressive opening win against Malawi last Friday, the Yellow Greens faced a tough outing in their second group match, falling to Namibia by 117 runs at the Harare Sports Club, Zimbabwe.
Okpe won the toss and elected to field.
Nigeria sought early breakthroughs, but Namibia’s top order had other plans. Jan Frylinck produced a breathtaking innings of 134 off 65 balls, well supported by Louren Steenkamp (51 off 27), to power Namibia to an imposing 235/6 in their 20 overs.
Nigeria’s bowling unit showed resilience, with Isaac Danladi starring with four wickets for 22 runs in three overs, while Isaac Okpe picked up two crucial wickets as well.
In the second innings, the Yellow Greens faced a disciplined Namibian attack. Sulaimon Runsewe (28), Sylvester Okpe (24), and Joseph Adedeji (16) led the resistance, but Nigeria only managed 118 runs for nine wickets, falling short despite moments of promise.
Speaking after the match, Okpe acknowledged Namibia’s quality but expressed confidence in the squad’s ability to bounce back.
“We didn’t execute our bowling the way we wanted, and that kind of put us on the back foot,” Okpe said.
“When the game goes like that, you always feel you can do better. But we had quite a lot of positives in the way Danladi bowled and the way we tried to come back. There was intensity in our batting too, and we will take it into the next game.”
The Yellow Greens will now turn their attention to the final group game against Kenya as they continue their quest for qualification.
A win against Kenya will be enough for them to progress into the semi-finals where they will face another team from Group B.
The finalists at the qualifiers will pick Africa’s ticket to the World Cup, which will be played in India and Sri Lanka.
Source Punch Ng
Posted September 29, 2025
You may also like...

Infantino Wants Overhaul Of Fifa Calendar

NFF reveal how much Super Falcons, officials paid...

At NDLEA/Lagos SWAN Symposium On Drug Abuse, Experts...

NBBF Promises Financial Support For Ailing Onah Deborah...

Ighalo’s Chinese Club Relegated to the Second Division...

NFF Election 2022: The Case Against Amaju Pinnick’s...