Uganda and Sierra Leone booked their places in the Under-19 World Cup qualifying tournament later this year after finishing first and second in the Africa Under-19 Championship in Zambia. They will join Afghanistan, Hong Kong and the top two teams from the Americas, East Asia-Pacific and Europe regions in a play-off, from which the top five teams from that tournament will join the ten ICC Full Members and hosts Kenya in the 2010 Under-19 World Cup.
Uganda and Sierra Leone met in the final round of matches, and it was Uganda who won a rain-affected game despite bein bowled out for 91. Chasing a revised target of 83 in 20 overs, Sierra Leone lost too many wickets too quickly and only managed 35 for 8, Geofrey Nyero returning remarkable figures of 6 for 7.
That result meant that Namibia could have overtaken Sierra Leone with an emphatic win over the hugely disappointing Kenyans, but after they had posted 158 for 7, the match was abandoned six overs into Kenya’s reply. The one point Namibia earned was not enough.
Hosts Zambia finished fourth thanks to a 63-run win over Tanzania, but again the weather meant the game was decided by Duckworth-Lewis calculations. Zambia made 133 and Tanzania struggled to 42 for 7 before the rain returned.
Nigeria showed why they finished bottom without a win as they were dismissed for 68 by Botswana, who went on to amble to a six-wicket win.
The President of the association Beresford Coker has disclosed to Awoko Sports that Sierra Leone has made history by being the first affiliate to qualify for the world cup world regional tournament which is a big achievement to the boys.
After the competition Ibrahim Kabia who won man of the series in the last competition in Mozambique was also able to win the man of the series in this competition in Zambia which is also a great achievement for the player and the country.
The delegation is expected to arrive tomorrow from Zambia with the runner’s up trophy.
How they stand after the competition in Zambia
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