With dreams of a fourth U19 World Cup appearance, the Baby Cricket Cranes are set to take on Africa’s best in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup Africa Qualifier. The team departs for Nigeria on March 25, fully prepared for the challenge ahead.
Uganda has a rich history in youth cricket, having previously played in the U19 World Cup in 2004, 2006, and 2022. Their last appearance in 2022 saw them claim an impressive 13th-place finish after defeating Scotland. Now, they are determined to book another ticket to the global stage.
The qualifiers, running from March 28 to April 6, will feature six teams: Uganda, hosts Nigeria, defending champions Namibia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Sierra Leone. The matches will be played at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) Cricket Oval and the University of Lagos Cricket Oval.
Uganda will kick off their campaign against Tanzania on March 29 before facing Kenya, Sierra Leone, Namibia, and Nigeria. Only the tournament winner will qualify for the 2026 U19 World Cup, set to be co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Head coach Emmanuel Isaneez expressed confidence in his squad, saying, “The boys have worked hard and are determined to qualify. We believe in their potential.”
Full squad: Gerald Olipa (C), Devansh Patel, Richard Sohera, Christopher Kidega, Jonathan Nyiiro, Robert Owili, Conrad Lubwama, Abraiz Mir Ali, Peter Ochen, Musa Majid Ramathan, Gurjivan Singh, Ali Balidawa, Aziz Tandia, Jordan Oketcho
