Nigeria’s Yellow Greens have started their West Africa Trophy campaign positively. They secured a spirited 19-run victory over Zambia in Abuja on Thursday. The match was tense. Nigeria closed out the contest in the final moments. This happened despite setting a modest total.

Zambia won the toss first. They chose to bowl, hoping for favorable early conditions. Their strategy seemed effective. Nigeria struggled to find rhythm during the powerplay. The team also lost wickets steadily. Nigeria’s innings badly needed a boost. Isaac Okpe provided this when he came to the crease.

Okpe delivered the standout innings of the match. He first steadied Nigeria during a tough period. Then, he changed the game’s tempo with confident hitting. Okpe remained unbeaten on 35 runs from just 19 balls. He smashed three fours and two sixes. His late performance boosted Nigeria’s total. They reached 138 for eight in their 20 overs. This gave the home side a meaningful target to defend.

Zambia’s disciplined bowling kept them in contention. Asim Mohammed led their strong effort. Mohammed took three crucial wickets. He applied pressure throughout his spell. This prevented Nigeria from extending their total significantly.

Zambia’s chase started promisingly. Zoyeb Chand anchored their innings well. He scored a patient 47 runs from 46 balls. Chand kept Zambia close to the required rate. However, he received little support from other batsmen. Once Chand was dismissed, the chase faltered. Nigeria then took full control of the match.

Prosper Useni then delivered a game-changing spell. He broke Zambia’s resistance effectively. Useni claimed four crucial wickets. He turned the closing overs into a procession. Zambia crumbled, getting all out for 119 in 19 overs. Useni’s accuracy and timing were key. They shifted the match in Nigeria’s favor. This sealed a victory that had seemed uncertain earlier.

Nigeria will now focus on their next fixture. They face Sierra Leone today. Sierra Leone aims to recover after a seven-wicket defeat to Rwanda. The Nigerian hosts hope to maintain Thursday’s momentum. They want to strengthen their position in the tournament.