Nigeria’s quest to reach the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup came to an unfortunate end after the Yellow Greens fell short in the Africa Qualifiers, finishing sixth overall.

In their final game — the fifth-place playoff on Saturday — Uganda outclassed Nigeria with a 66-run victory. The Ugandans set a formidable total of 196 for 7, powered by Riazat Ali Shah’s unbeaten 66, which provided the backbone of their innings.

In response, Nigeria’s chase faltered early and never truly recovered. Despite captain Sylvester Okpe’s fighting knock of 26 runs and two wickets, the Yellow Greens could only reach 130 for 7 after 20 overs.

Across the qualifiers, Nigeria secured wins against Malawi and Botswana, but losses to Namibia, Kenya, and Uganda proved costly. The team displayed flashes of promise but struggled to maintain momentum against higher-ranked sides.

Meanwhile, Zimbabwe and Namibia booked their tickets to the 2026 T20 World Cup, joining South Africa as Africa’s representatives on the global stage.