Rwanda will begin their title defense with test against Ghana on Monday, March 27, in the opening match of the Nigeria T20 Invitational Women cricket tournament scheduled to take place at Tafawa Balewa Square Oval in Lagos from March 26 to April 3.
Rwanda won the first edition in 2022 when they defeated host nation Nigeria by 52 bats in the grand final and head coach Leonard Nhamburo and his young guns will be looking to retain the accolade this year.
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The game between the two finalists in 2022, Rwanda and Nigeria, which is the biggest game in the preliminary stage, will be played on April 1.
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Out of the six teams, who will participate in the competition, Rwanda is the best ranked team by the International Cricket Council as they sit 27th in the world ranking.
Nhamburo has already summoned his 16-woman squad which is currently training at Gahanga International Cricket Stadium before they depart Kigali for the tournament on Sunday.
Squad traveling in Nigeria
Sarah Uwera, Clarisse Mutoniwase, Sifa Ingabire, Immaculate Muhawenimana, Alice Ikuzwe, Diane Marie Bimenyimana, Gisele Ishimwe, Merveille Uwase, Belise Murekatete, Margueritte Vumiliya, Josiane Nyirankundineza, Geovanis Uwase, Henriette Therese Ishimwe, Rosine Irera, Cynthia Tuyizere and Flora Irakoze.