Sports
Nigeria Crowned West Africa Trophy Champions with Dominant Final Victory Over Rwanda
Joel Ajayi
The Nigeria Cricket Federation’s NCF Pitch in Abuja played host to a thrilling conclusion of the West Africa Trophy today, where the host nation Nigeria defeated Rwanda by 40 runs to lift the championship title.
In a commanding all-round performance, Nigeria posted a competitive total of 157/5 before their bowling unit stifled the Rwandan chase, restricting them to 117/9 in their 20 overs.
First Innings: Nigeria Sets the Pace, after wining the toss, Nigeria opted to bat first, looking to set a challenging target in the final.
The innings was anchored by steady contributions from the top and middle order. Captain and wicketkeeper Runsewe Sulaimon led from the front with a composed 34 runs off 26 balls, including two boundaries and two sixes.
The innings found its momentum late in the game thanks to an explosive unbeaten cameo from Okpe Sylvester, who smashed 35 runs off just 22 balls (Strike Rate 159.09), punishing the bowlers with two massive sixes. Support also came from Selim Salau (25 off 25 balls) and Vincent Adewoye (21 off 20 balls), helping push the total to 157/5.
For Rwanda, Muhammad Nadir was the standout bowler, claiming 3 wickets for 18 runs in his 4-over spell, keeping the Nigerian batsmen in check during the middle overs.
Second Innings: YellowGreens Bowlers Lock It Down for the Rwanda Team, chasing 158 for the trophy, the side struggled to build significant partnerships against a disciplined Nigerian attack. Didier Ndikubwimana fought hard for a top score of 33 off 38 balls, and Khan Hamza added a quick 27 off 21 balls, but the required run rate continued to climb.
The Nigerian bowling unit was relentless. Ndubudem Elochukwu delivered a miserly spell, taking 2 wickets for just 13 runs in 4 overs, creating immense pressure. He was ably supported by Joshua Asia (2/17) and Isaac Okpe (2/25), who dismantled the Rwandan lineup.
Rwanda finished their innings on 117/9, falling 40 runs short of the target.Match Summary
Result: Nigeria won by 40 runsNigeria: 157/5 (20.0 Ov) – Okpe Sylvester 35 (22), Runsewe Sulaimon 34 (26)*Rwanda: 117/9 (20.0 Ov) – Didier Ndikubwimana 33 (38), Ndubudem Elochukwu 2/13 (4.0).
This victory caps off a successful tournament for the Nigeria Cricket Federation, solidifying their dominance on home soil in the 2025 West Africa Trophy.
*Zeal IBE**Media Manager* *Nigeria Cricket Federation*
Sports
Montage Community Football Tourney Registration Ends October 30
Cyril Ogar
Registration for the 2026 edition of the Montage Community Football Tournament will close on Friday, October 30, organisers have announced.
The tournament coordinator, Mr Raphael Ekpang, disclosed this on Thursday, urging interested teams across the six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to take advantage of the remaining days to register.
Ekpang said registration had been ongoing since Monday, encouraging eligible teams to complete the process before the deadline.
The tournament, themed “Montage FM 99.7: Empowering Youth, Uniting Communities Through Football,” is scheduled to kick off on November 3, 2026, with playoffs across the six Area Councils of the FCT.
The grand finale will hold on December 5, 2026, at the Old Parade Ground, Garki Area 10, Abuja, where the top four teams will compete for first-, second- and third-place honours.
A total of 48 teams will participate in the competition, with eight teams representing each of the six Area Councils.
The participating teams will compete for cash prizes worth over ₦2 million and other valuable rewards.
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