Nigeria qualify for first ever World Cup

Nigeria made history by qualifying for their first major cricketing event when they beat Sierra Leone by two wickets to qualify for the 2020 ICC Under-19 World Cup on Saturday. 

It was a nervy win at the Affies Park at Windhoek, Namibia, on the last day of the ICC Under-19 World Cup Qualifier Africa Division One. Set 139 to win after Sierra Leone were shot out for 138 in just 37.3 overs, Nigeria were in trouble on 91 for seven in the 38th over with off-spinner Osman Sankoh scalping three wickets. 

Then followed a vital 31-run partnership between Peter Aho and Emmanuel Boniface that took Nigeria to 122 before Boniface departed. Abdulrahman Jimoh (12 off 12) then supported Aho (21 off 32) to help Nigeria create history by reaching the target in 44.2 overs. 

Scores in brief:

Sierra Leone: 138 all out in 37.3 overs (Kamara 58, Sankoh 24; Jimoh 2-2)

Nigeria: 139 for eight in 44.2 overs (Danladi 25, Ikaige 22, Aho 21 not out; Sankoh 3-13)

Result: Nigeria won by two wickets