Nigeria in the 2025 Kwibuka Women’s T20 Cricket Tournament

Tournament Overview & Symbolism

The 11th edition of the Kwibuka Women’s T20 Tournament is underway in Kigali, Rwanda, from June 3 to 14, 2025. Organized by the Rwanda Cricket Association, this event honors survivors of the 1994 Rwandan genocide. Nine national teams (including Nigeria) are competing in a round-robin format, with the top four advancing to the semifinals on June 13, followed by the final on June 14

🇳🇬 Nigerian Squad & Match Summaries

1. Debut Match vs Zimbabwe HPC (June 3):
   Nigeria lost a close contest by just six runs, posting 98/7 while Zimbabwe reached 104/8

2. Comprehensive Win vs Cameroon (June 7):
   Nigerian bowlers dominated, dismissing Cameroon for 36 while chasing a DLS-adjusted target and winning by 38 runs

3. Final Group Stage Position:
   Nigeria finished 5th in the round-robin, with 5 wins and 3 losses, accumulating 10 points and a net run rate of +0.518.

Standout Performers to Watch

• Salome Sunday (wk): Reliable batting, especially in the win against Cameroon.

• Favour Eseigbe & Rachael Samson (bowlers): Took key wickets in early matches

• Christabel Chukwuonye & Esther Sandy (batters): Contributed valuable middle-order runs.

Tournament Context & Significance

• Nigeria is part of a growing field of nine nations, alongside teams like Uganda (defending champions), Rwanda, Tanzania, Brazil, and Zimbabwe HPC

• The Kwibuka T20 serves as both a memorial event and a key development platform for emerging women’s cricket teams in Africa and beyond.

• With competitive outings and strong performances, Nigeria is building momentum in international women’s cricket, aiming for future semifinal qualifications.

What’s Next?

• Nigeria miss the semifinals this year but gained significant exposure.

• Their experience in Rwanda lays a foundation for upcoming international fixtures and regional qualifiers.

• Watch out for individual players like Sunday, Eseigbe, and Samson, who could feature in African Cricket qualifiers and future ICC events.