RWANDA AND KENYA QUALIFY FOR ICC MEN’S T20 WORLD CUP AFRICA QUALIFIER 2027 AFTER THRILLING WEEK IN BOTSWANA

Rwanda and Kenya have secured qualification for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Qualifier 2027 after finishing first and second, respectively, at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Africa Qualifier A in Gaborone. 

The two nations emerged from a highly competitive seven-team tournament featuring Botswana, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Kenya, with the top two teams progressing further along the qualification pathway towards the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028 in Australia and New Zealand. 

Rwanda completed a flawless campaign to finish top of the standings with six wins from six matches, while Kenya claimed five victories from their six fixtures to join them in advancing to next year's regional final. 

Rwanda captain, Didier Ndikubwimana, said: “We put a lot of effort in and fought until the end. To win 6 games with strong teams like Kenya and Botswana in the mix was not easy, we are happy. We took one match at a time.” 

Kenya captain, Dhiren Gondaria, said: “It is a huge thing for us to qualify and the main thing for us now is to do well in the next qualifiers. We came back really well after losing a game. Botswana is incredible, we loved the weather.” 

Botswana vs Rwanda 

The marquee final fixture of the tournament lived up to every ounce of its billing, with Rwanda edging hosts Botswana by just two runs in a heart-stopping thriller at BCA Oval 1 to complete an unbeaten campaign and confirm their place at the top of the table. 

Batting first, Rwanda were restricted to 117/8 from their 20 overs by a sustained Botswana bowling effort. Hamza Khan top-scored with 23 off 23 balls, and there were valuable contributions from Oscar Manishimwe (21 off 24), captain Didier Ndikubwimana (19 off 15) and the lower-order duo of Martin Akayezu (19 off 14) and Emile Rukiriza (16 off 10). Brandon Van Zyl was the pick of the Botswana bowlers with 3/23 from his four overs, while Dhruvkumar Maisuria took 2/11 and Boemo Kgosiemang, Nabil Master and Katlo Piet claimed a wicket apiece in a fine team effort. 

Botswana’s reply was anchored by captain Karabo Motlhanka, who scored a composed 40 off 38 balls. However, Rwanda’s bowlers struck at regular intervals, with Yves Cyusa (2/31) and Martin Akayezu (2/24) leading the charge. With the match in the balance, Dhruvkumar Maisuria launched a remarkable late assault, blasting an unbeaten 16 off just five balls to keep Botswana’s hopes alive until the very last ball. Nabil Master (11 off 14) and Brandon Van Zyl (11 off 7) also contributed, but Botswana fell agonisingly short on 115/8 from their 20 overs, losing by just two runs. 

Mali vs Sierra Leone 

Sierra Leone ended their tournament on a high with a confident six-wicket victory over Mali at BCA Oval 1, riding on a sensational opening bowling display from George Sesay and a brisk chase led by Eric Turay and Raymond Coker. 

Mali, batting first, managed only 97/9 from their 20 overs as Sierra Leone’s bowlers maintained relentless pressure throughout. Vamshi Reddy top-scored with a battling 39 off 41 balls, and Sanze Kamate added 16 off 16, but no other batter could muster meaningful resistance against a disciplined attack. George Sesay was magnificent with the new ball, returning the outstanding figures of three wickets for just six runs from four overs and Abass Gbla matched the wicket tally with 3/19 from his spell. Mohamed Turay also chipped in with 1/11 in another strong team bowling performance. 

Chasing 98, Sierra Leone wobbled briefly to 23/3 in the powerplay, losing Yegbeh Jalloh, Alusine Turay and captain Lansana Lamin. However, wicketkeeper-batter Eric Turay then took charge with a composed 35 not out off 31 balls, and was joined by Raymond Coker whose unbeaten 32 off 20 balls brought the chase home with ease. Sierra Leone reached 99/4 in 12.1 overs, finishing the tournament with a second consecutive victory. 

Cote D’Ivoire vs Kenya 

Kenya produced a clinical performance bowling out Côte d’Ivoire out for just 18 and chasing the runs in 1.4 overs to win by nine wickets at BCA Oval 2 and seal their qualification. 

Asked to bat first, Côte d’Ivoire were destroyed by a Kenya bowling attack that produced one of the great Associate-cricket bowling displays. Gerard Mwendwa was phenomenal, returning extraordinary figures of four wickets for two runs from four overs with 3 maidens and an economy rate of just 0.50. Sachin Gill (2/5), Lucas Oluoch (2/4) and Vishil Patel (1/0) provided support as Ivory Coast collapsed to just 18 all out in 12.3 overs, with Dje Claude’s five the highest individual score.  

Kenya’s chase was little more than a formality. Sukhdeep Singh blasted an unbeaten 10 off four balls, and Nitish Hirani finished unbeaten on two as Kenya reached 19/1 in just 1.4 overs to secure the most emphatic victory of the tournament. 

PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT 

Hamza Khan (Rwanda) 

Hamza Khan has been named Player of the Tournament for an exceptional campaign capped by his historic 164 not out against Côte d’Ivoire, the second-highest individual score in Men’s T20 International history. Across Rwanda’s unbeaten six-match run, Hamza delivered with both bat and composure under pressure, anchoring chases, accelerating innings and providing the moment that will define this tournament. A truly deserved recognition. He finished the tournament with a total of 288 runs in 6 innings at a strike rate of 165.52.  

BEST BATTER 

Karabo Mothlanka (Botswana)-274 runs at an average of 91.3 

BEST BOWLER 

Sachin Gill (Kenya)-17 wickets at an average of 4.06 and economy of 3.29. Best bowling figures of 7/7.  

Match Summaries 

Morning Fixture (BCA Oval 1) 

Mali Vs Sierra Leone 

Mali: 97/9 (20 overs) 

Sierra Leone: 99/4 (12.1 overs) 

Sierra Leone won by 6 wickets 

Scorecard 

Photo link 

Morning Fixture (BCA Oval 2) 

Cote D’Ivoire Vs Kenya 

Cote D’Ivoire: 18/10 (12.3 overs) 

Kenya: 19/1 (1.4 overs) 

Kenya won by 9 wickets 

Scorecard 

Photo link 

Afternoon Fixture (BCA Oval 1) 

Botswana Vs Rwanda 

Rwanda: 117/8 (20 overs) 

Botswana: 115/8 (20overs) 

Rwanda won by 2 runs 

Scorecard 

Photo link

✅ Qualified for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Africa Final Qualifier