Female Yellow Greens clinch Kwibuka bronze after thrilling win over Brazil
Nigeria’s Female YellowGreens signed off from the 2026 Kwibuka Women’s T20I Tournament in style, edging Brazil Women by two wickets to secure the bronze medal and a podium finish in Kigali, Rwanda.
After a difficult run during the competition, the Nigerian side showed character and determination when it mattered most, producing a spirited performance at the Gahanga International Stadium to ensure they did not leave Rwanda empty-handed.
Winning the toss and opting to field, Nigeria’s bowlers set the tone with a disciplined display, restricting Brazil to 85 all out in their allotted 20 overs. The chase proved far from straightforward, but the Female YellowGreens held their nerve to reach 87 for 8 in 19.2 overs and seal victory with four balls remaining.
Leading the charge with the ball was Player of the Match Christabel Chukwuonye, who delivered an outstanding spell of 3 for 13, including a maiden over. She received strong support from Oseyande Omonkhobho, Shola Adekunle and Rachael Samson, who claimed two wickets each, while captain Favour Eseigbe added one as Brazil struggled to gain momentum throughout their innings.
Nigeria’s pursuit of the modest target was made challenging by Brazil’s persistent bowling attack, which kept picking up wickets at crucial moments. However, Shola Adekunle’s composed 26 provided stability, while skipper Eseigbe remained unbeaten on 19 to guide her side home and secure the bronze medal.
For captain Eseigbe, the victory was a reward for the team’s refusal to give up despite suffering four defeats before the playoff encounter.
“We lost about four games before this third-place match, but going into this game we had high momentum,” she said.
“It was a final push for us because we told ourselves we would either take something home or go home empty. We decided to come out all out, and I must commend the girls for their efforts. We are very excited that our efforts paid off, and we’ll build on it from here.”
The skipper praised the collective effort of the team, highlighting the improved unity and determination that drove them to victory.
“Today everybody worked. Yesterday a few people didn’t come to the party, but today everybody was involved and everybody was encouraging each other. It was a team effort.
“However, I must give it up for Christabel Chukwuonye, who took three wickets and bowled a maiden over. She has been doing it from the very first match to this very match, and that’s commendable.”
Eseigbe also acknowledged the unwavering support of Nigerian cricket fans throughout the tournament.
“We see them, and we appreciate their support. Even on the days we should have won our matches, they didn’t give up on us and kept supporting us. We want to say thank you for your constant and continuous support. God bless you all.”
Chukwuonye, whose brilliant spell earned her the Player of the Match award, credited her teammates for helping her overcome injury setbacks and pressure situations during the tournament.
“It’s very satisfying because I could get encouragement from my teammates. It wasn’t easy at first, but I was able to get through with the motivation and support from the team,” she said.
“From the beginning of the tournament, I had a lot of injuries, but I was able to overcome them.”
The all-rounder revealed that faith played a key role in helping her stay calm during crucial moments.
“It’s thanks to God. There’s always a Bible verse I recite whenever I’m tense or under pressure. Whenever I recite that verse, I feel an overwhelming calmness, and it goes a long way.”
Looking ahead, Chukwuonye believes the lessons learned in Kigali will help the team grow stronger.
“There are a lot of positives from this tournament. Taking those positives back home will help us as a team and as individuals. We’ll work on the areas we need to improve and bounce back stronger in the next tournament.”
While the bronze medal was the immediate reward, Nigeria’s performance in Rwanda further underlined the steady progress of women’s cricket in the country. The Female YellowGreens leave Kigali with valuable international experience, renewed confidence, and another sign that they are steadily emerging as a force on the continental stage.
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