By Bockarie Allieu
The ICC U-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup Africa Div-2 Qualifier will start today with the host country Tanzania hosting Nigeria at the Dar Gymkhana Oval in Tanzania.
In the next match from the same group B, Ghana will host Mozambique at UDSM Oval.
On match day 2, Sierra Leone will host Rwanda at the Dar Gymkhana Oval and in the next match, Botswana will host Malawi at the UDSM Oval.
The Sierra Leone U-19 captain Raymond said their aim is not just to win tomorrow’s match but to finish among the top two and qualifier to the division 1.
In this case, he said they are going to take all matches serious with determination. He went on that their first target is to finish as group leader in group A, assuring fans that they are not on jolly ride in Tanzania but on business to clinch the champion trophy and return home with it.
Raymond appealed to fans to have confidence in them and remember them in their prayers always.
Sierra Leone arrived in Tanzania yesterday and went straight for training to get use to the ground from the Hotel. In the last U-19 World Cup qualifier in Nigeria, Sierra Leone ended in 3rd position closely behind Nigeria in second and Kenya in first position.
But in the division 1 qualifier both Sierra Leone and Nigeria ended at the bottom which led to their relegation back to the division 2.
In the last U-19 competition, Ghana failed to take part having failed to travel with their full team in time due to lack of passport for some of the young players.
The Manager Abu Best Kamara have told the players that he needs nothing less than victory in tomorrow’s match to motivate them for their second match.
Sierra Leone will battle with Malawi on match day 4 on Sunday 4th August 2024 at Dar Gymkhana Oval and they will play their last group stage match against Botswana on match day 7, Wednesday 7th August 2024 at Dar Gymkhana Oval.
The teams will rest on the 8th August 2024 for the semi-final stage on Friday.
