Nigeria vs Sierra Leone, Match 3: Preview & Prediction
The third clash of the Quadrangular T20I Series 2026 sees Nigeria take on Sierra Leone on 23rd September 2026, at 2:30 PM IST (10:00 GMT), at the Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval, Lagos.
Match Overview
Both teams arrive at this encounter with momentum-building ambitions in the four-team tournament. Nigeria opened their campaign in commanding fashion, defeating Ghana by eight wickets, while Sierra Leone began with a 33-run loss against Nigeria A.
Recent Form
Nigeria delivered a dominant opening performance, restricting Ghana to 91/9 in 20 overs before reaching their target of 95/2 in just 13 overs. Isaac Danladi anchored the chase with an unbeaten 52 off 42 balls, while Miracle Akhigbe added a quick unbeaten 19 off 10 balls and claimed 2/14 in four overs. Chima Akachukwu strengthened the bowling attack with 2/10, with Peter Aho and Ridwan Abdulkareem taking one wicket each.
Sierra Leone, by contrast, were bowled out for 80 in 19.5 overs while chasing 113/8 posted by Nigeria A. Alusine Turay top-scored with 17 off 16, joined by Eric Turay (15) and Lansana Lamin (14), as Elochukwu Ndubudem dismantled their lineup with 3/10.
Hot Picks
| Category | Players |
|---|---|
| Captaincy Picks | Isaac Danladi (52* vs Ghana), Miracle Akhigbe (19* & 2/14) |
| All-Round Options | Samuel Conteh (SL), Chima Akachukwu (2/10 vs Ghana) |
| Budget Picks | Isaac Okpe, Alusine Turay |
Pitch & Weather Report
| Parameter | Detail |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 26°C |
| Weather | Cloudy |
| Pitch Behaviour | Balanced |
| Best Suited To | Pace |
| Average 1st Innings Score | 113–130 |
Teams batting first have won 32 of 61 matches at this venue, with chasing sides claiming 24 victories — making the toss and powerplay execution crucial.
Head-to-Head
| Teams | Matches Won |
|---|---|
| Nigeria | 0 |
| Sierra Leone | 0 |
This is a fresh rivalry with no prior encounters on record.
Predicted Playing 11s
Nigeria: Isaac Danladi, Selim Salau, Ali Rahmon, Chima Akachukwu (C), Ridwan Abdulkareem, Miracle Akhigbe, Abdullahi Ismail, Vincent Adewoye, Isaac Okpe, Peter Aho, Kenneth Boniface
Sierra Leone: Eric Turay (C & wk), Abu Kamara, Alusine Turay, George Sesay, Lansana Lamin, Mohamed Turay, Raymond Coker, Solomon Williams, Aliya Kamara, Brima Ansumana, Samuel Conteh
Match Winner Prediction
On the strength of their explosive opening display, balanced squad combination, and the match-winning contributions from Isaac Danladi and Miracle Akhigbe, Nigeria are expected to emerge victorious in this clash.
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