The 12th edition of the Kwibuka Women’s T20 International Tournament got underway on Wednesday at the Gahanga International Cricket Stadium in Kigali, Rwanda.
Despite the action on the field, one of the biggest talking points surrounding this year’s event is the absence of Uganda’s Victoria Pearls.
For years, Uganda has been one of the most successful teams in Kwibuka history and among the strongest competitors in East African women’s cricket. Their rivalry with hosts Rwanda has often produced some of the tournament’s most memorable moments, making their absence from the 2026 edition particularly noticeable.
Uganda’s withdrawal has reportedly been influenced by player-management considerations, with the national team expected to participate in the upcoming Capricorn Series in the coming weeks. The technical team appears to have prioritised workload management and preparation for future assignments rather than exposing players to back-to-back international tournaments.
The decision is understandable from a planning perspective. However, it has left many observers wondering whether an emerging Uganda side, similar to the one that featured in recent Women’s Day Cup competitions, could have been considered to maintain the country’s presence at one of Africa’s premier women’s cricket events.
The annual competition, which runs from June 10 to 20, serves a dual purpose. Beyond providing valuable ICC T20 International ranking points, it also stands as a powerful symbol of remembrance, honouring the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi while promoting the growth and development of women’s cricket worldwide.
This year’s competition features hosts Rwanda alongside Nigeria, Malawi, Brazil and the Zimbabwe High-Performance XI, with teams battling through a group phase before progressing to the semifinals and final.
And while Uganda watches from afar, Nigeria wasted little time announcing itself as one of the teams to beat after defeating Malawi by 52 runs in one of the opening matches of the tournament.
After winning the toss, Malawi captain Euless Chiralile elected to field first, hoping to take advantage of the early morning conditions in Kigali.
The match was officiated by Rwanda’s Gaston Niyibizi and South Africa’s Nicolas Kock.
Nigeria entered the contest as favourites, carrying a significantly higher ICC ranking than their opponents. The West Africans came into the tournament ranked 26th in the world, while Malawi arrived in Kigali ranked 56th.
However, Malawi initially gave a good account of themselves with the ball, with the Nigerians struggling to establish partnerships from the outset. Christabel Chukwuonye made 11 runs while Oseyande Omonkhobhio briefly provided momentum with a quick four from just two deliveries.
Malawi’s disciplined bowling attack regularly chipped away at the Nigerian batting order and kept scoring opportunities to a minimum.
Lucy Malino emerged as the standout performer with the ball, producing an excellent spell of 4 wickets for 15 runs from her four overs. Sugeni Kananji also contributed effectively with figures of 1 for 18, while Sophina Chinawa and Lidia Dimba claimed a wicket apiece.
Nigeria found themselves under serious pressure at 38 for 6 after eight overs, with Malawi appearing to have seized control of the contest.
But just when Malawi looked poised to dominate the match, Nigeria found resistance through Jessica Bieni. The middle-order batter produced a calm and composed innings of 25 not out from 35 deliveries to anchor the recovery effort.
Sarah Etim added 14 runs while Lillian Udeh chipped in with 11 as Nigeria slowly rebuilt and guided their side to 98 for 8 from the allotted 20 overs.
Although the total appeared below par, Nigeria knew they possessed the bowling attack capable of defending it on a surface offering assistance to disciplined bowlers.
What followed was a complete bowling and fielding masterclass from Nigeria; Malawi’s chase never gained momentum as wickets fell at regular intervals.
Nigeria immediately applied pressure in the field, producing sharp run-outs that removed both Sophina Chinawa and Malawi captain Euless Chiralile before the innings could settle.
Despite failing to score with the bat earlier in the day, Adekunle returned to produce the match-winning spell, claiming three wickets for 15 runs from her four overs.
She dismissed Praise Maziya, Angela Lumbe and Christina Bwanali as Nigeria tightened its grip on proceedings.
Adekunle was well supported by Henrietta Mbam, who picked up two wickets, while captain Favour Eseigbe delivered the finishing touches with two wickets in just three deliveries.
Only Sugeni Kananji offered meaningful resistance for Malawi, top-scoring with 16 runs. However, she received little support from the rest of the batting order as Nigeria’s bowlers continued to dominate.
Malawi were eventually bowled out for just 46 runs in 10.3 overs, handing Nigeria a comprehensive 52-run victory and an ideal start to their campaign.
For her decisive contribution with the ball, Adeshola Adekunle was named Player of the Match, finishing with figures of 3 for 15 from four overs.