Suji announces squad for U-19 World Cup qualifier
Thursday, September 22, 2022
The U-19 National cricket team during a training session at Gahanga Cricket Stadium last week. Rwanda is pooled in Group B alongside tournament hosts Nigeria, Botswana and Sierra Leone. Photo: Courtesy.

The national cricket team head coach Martin Suji has announced his final 14-man squad will travel to Abuja on, Nigeria on September 28 for the forthcoming ICC U19 Cricket World Cup-Africa Division 2 Qualifying round.

The qualifiers take place from September 30 to October 8.

It will bring together eight countries namely; Nigeria, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, and Sierra Leone.

Rwanda was pooled in the same Group B alongside tournament hosts Nigeria, Botswana and Sierra Leone.

The boys will start the campaign against Nigeria on October 1 and Sierra Leone on October 3 before concluding their group stage fixtures against Botswana on October 5.

The top two from the group will progress to the semi-finals slated for October 7 where they will join the top two teams from Group A’s Kenya, Ghana, Malawi and Mozambique.

According to the tournament format, the winner of A will face the runner-up in Group B and vice versa.

The two finalists, plus the third-placed team, will qualify to compete at the Africa Qualifier in 2023, where they will be joined by Namibia, Tanzania, and Uganda, who have already entered the qualification pathway.

The U19 Men squad to Abuja

Yvan Bimenyimana (Captain), Israel Mugisha (Vice-Captain), Eloi Loick Ineza Abimbabazi, Rodrigue Niyomugabo, Yves Cyusa, Francois Zirahangaje, Emmanuel Manishimwe, Eric Uwiduhaye, Elie Niyonshuti, Emmanuel Nsengiyumva, Ibrahim Nshimiyimana, Bertin Mugisha, Chris Yussuf Namuhoranye and Steven Ntwari.

Reserves: Alan Mugisha and Regis Muvunyi