Ivory Coast Stunned as Nigeria Inflicts Record-Breaking Defeat in T20I Qualifier

Cricket fans witnessed history in Lagos during the T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Africa Qualifier, but not the kind Ivory Coast would want to remember. In a match on Sunday, November 25, Nigeria delivered a commanding performance, scoring an imposing 271/4 before dismissing Ivory Coast for a jaw-dropping seven runs. This total now stands as the…


Ivory Coast Stunned as Nigeria Inflicts Record-Breaking Defeat in T20I Qualifier

Cricket fans witnessed history in Lagos during the T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Africa Qualifier, but not the kind Ivory Coast would want to remember. In a match on Sunday, November 25, Nigeria delivered a commanding performance, scoring an imposing 271/4 before dismissing Ivory Coast for a jaw-dropping seven runs. This total now stands as the lowest in men’s T20I history, eclipsing the Isle of Man’s previous record of 10 runs.

Nigeria’s Batting Fireworks

Winning the toss and opting to bat, Nigeria unleashed a batting onslaught. Selim Salau stole the show with a scintillating 112 off just 53 balls, laced with explosive hitting before retiring. Isaac Okpe followed up with a destructive knock, hammering an unbeaten 65 off 23 deliveries, featuring six towering sixes and three boundaries.

By the end of 20 overs, Nigeria had amassed 271/4, leaving Ivory Coast facing a monumental target.


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Ivory Coast’s Nightmare Innings

What followed was a batting collapse for the ages. Ivory Coast’s chase began disastrously and only worsened. Opener Ouattara Mohamed managed a meager four runs—the top score of the innings. The rest of the batting lineup faltered miserably, with six players dismissed for ducks. Ivory Coast failed to hit a single boundary, and their innings folded in just 7.3 overs for a total of seven runs.

A Crushing Victory for Nigeria

Nigeria’s dominant performance secured a resounding 264-run win, though it fell short of breaking the record for the largest margin of victory in T20Is (Zimbabwe’s 290-run win over Gambia remains unbeaten). Nevertheless, the victory sent a clear message about Nigeria’s intent in the qualification process for the 2026 T20 World Cup.

What Lies Ahead

For Nigeria, this result is a significant boost as they eye qualification for the global stage. Their comprehensive performance in all departments cements their status as a team to watch.

Ivory Coast, however, faces an uphill battle. Recovering from this historic loss will require resilience, and the team will need to regroup quickly to stay competitive in the tournament.

For now, the spotlight belongs to Nigeria, whose emphatic display has etched their name in the T20I record books.