Nigeria had reasons to smile at the weekend as the Women’s Yellow Greens ended their campaign at the Kwibuka T20i tournament by beating Brazil by two wickets to win the bronze medal.

The victory at the Gahanga International Stadium, Kigali, Rwanda, was a fitting reward for a determined Nigerian side that refused to bow out without a fight. Having endured a difficult run of results leading into the third-place playoff, the team produced one of its most resilient performances to finish the tournament with a medal.

After winning the toss and electing to field, Nigeria restricted Brazil to 85 all out in 20 overs before successfully chasing down the target with four balls to spare, reaching 87 for 8 in 19.2 overs.

The foundation for victory was laid by Nigeria’s disciplined bowling attack. Player of the Match Christabel Chukwuonye delivered a standout performance, claiming three wickets for 13 runs, including a maiden over, while Oseyande Omonkhobho, Shola Adekunle and Rachael Samson each picked up two wickets to keep Brazil under constant pressure.

Captain Favour Eseigbe also chipped in with a wicket as Nigeria bowled out their opponents for a modest total.

In response, Nigeria’s chase was tested by regular breakthroughs from the Brazilian bowlers. However, Shola Adekunle anchored the innings with a crucial 26 runs, while skipper Favour Eseigbe remained unbeaten on 19 to guide the team over the line and secure the bronze medal.

Reflecting on the victory, captain Eseigbe described the match as the team’s final opportunity to leave Rwanda with something tangible after a challenging tournament.

“We lost about four games before this third-place match, but going into this game, we had high momentum. It was a final push for us because we told ourselves we would either take something home or go home empty. We decided to come out all out, and I must commend the girls for their efforts. We are very excited that our efforts paid off, and we’ll build on it from here,” she said.

The captain was quick to emphasise that the result was built on collective effort rather than individual brilliance.

She added: “Today everybody worked. Yesterday a few people didn’t come to the party, but today everybody was involved, and everybody was encouraging each other. It was a team effort. However, I must give it up for Christabel Chukwuonye, who took three wickets and bowled a maiden over. She has been doing it from the very first match to this very match, and that’s commendable.”

Eseigbe also reserved special appreciation for Nigerian supporters and cricket fans who stood by the team throughout the tournament.

“We see them, and we appreciate their support. Even on the days we should have won our matches, they didn’t give up on us and kept supporting us. We want to say thank you for your constant and continuous support. God bless you all,” she said.

Player of the Match Christabel Chukwuonye credited her teammates for helping her overcome pressure and injuries to deliver a match-winning performance.

“It’s very satisfying because I could get encouragement from my teammates. It wasn’t easy at first, but I was able to get through with the motivation and support from the team. From the beginning of the tournament, I had a lot of injuries, but I was able to overcome them,” she said.

The third-place finish continues the upward trajectory of Nigerian women’s cricket and demonstrates the growing depth, resilience, and competitiveness of the Female YellowGreens on the international stage. Beyond the medal, the tournament provided valuable exposure and experience that will aid the team’s preparations for upcoming regional and global competitions.