Uganda vs Nigeria, ACTC, Today Match Prediction 14 December 2024

UGA vs NIG Match Prediction & Analysis

Heading into this match, Uganda and Nigeria will face off against each other for the fourth time this tournament during the African Continental Cup 2024 in the Finals game. This last game of the tournament will be played on December 14th at 4:45 P.M. IST at their host location, Gahanga International Cricket Stadium of Kigali, Rwanda.

Last time out, this Uganda squad beat Rwanda by 50 runs, scoring 141/6 a day before the finals against Botswana. With their batting unit being a very formidable force that consistently scores a sufficient number of runs, it helps their bowling attack to continuously clean up teams for less than 130 runs. Meanwhile, Nigeria comes into the matchup after cruising through Rwanda last time out, beating them in a convincing 37-run win. While this group has the ability to produce great knocks, their bowling has been a significant issue, conceding over 140 runs in every match of the tournament except twice.

Looking at the current team rankings, Uganda is dominating the table and has controlled their own destiny throughout, winning all 8 matches. Being the most dominant force this tournament, their net run rate of 3.61 is far ahead of Nigeria's at -0.109. Although the Nigeria squad is in 2nd place, they have 4 victories to 5 losses and have struggled to find consistency throughout the whole tournament. With this game essentially being both teams' last chance to lift the cup, Nigeria will hope to create some late-season drama against a higher-level squad like Uganda in the finals.

Head-to-Head Record

As both teams have played each other 3 times in the tournament so far, this Uganda squad holds a 3-0 record against Nigeria, never allowing them to score over 135 runs. With this Uganda squad holding a 9-game winning streak against Nigeria, they will look to extend their dominance. 

They have managed to win by 5 or more wickets in 4 of their previous 5 matchups. Seeing that Nigeria has never beaten them in T20 internationals, they have lost to Uganda 4 times when batting second and five times when bowling first. With such a one-sided head-to-head record, Uganda will look to maintain their streak, while Nigeria hopes to end it and secure their first-ever T20I win against Uganda.

RECENT PERFORMANCE

UGA

W W W W W

UGA

141/6 in 20.0 7.05

ACTC

Uganda beat Botswana by 33 runs

13 Dec 2024

BO

108/7 in 20.0 5.4

RWA

98/9 in 20.0 4.9

ACTC

Uganda beat Rwanda by 50 runs 12 Dec 2024

UGA

148/6 in 20.0 7.4

UGA

151/8 in 20.0 7.55

ACTC

Uganda beat Nigeria by 23 runs 11 Dec 2024

NIG

128/7 in 20.0 6.4

BO

121/7 in 20.0 6.05

ACTC

Uganda beat Botswana by 108 runs 09 Dec 2024

UGA

229/3 in 20.0 11.45

UGA

107/3 in 13.0 8.23

ACTC

Uganda beat Nigeria by 7 wickets 08 Dec 2024

NIG

103/10 in 19.0 5.42

NIG

W W L L L

NIG

151/8 in 20.0 7.55

ACTC

Nigeria beat Rwanda by 37 runs 13 Dec 2024

RWA

114/7 in 20.0 5.7

BO

49/3 in 5.0 9.8

ACTC

Nigeria beat Botswana by 10 wickets 12 Dec 2024

NIG

51/0 in 2.5 18

UGA

151/8 in 20.0 7.55

ACTC

Uganda beat Nigeria by 23 runs 11 Dec 2024

NIG

128/7 in 20.0 6.4

NIG

149/8 in 20.0 7.45

ACTC

Rwanda beat Nigeria by 6 wickets 09 Dec 2024

RWA

152/4 in 19.0 8

UGA

107/3 in 13.0 8.23

ACTC

Uganda beat Nigeria by 7 wickets 08 Dec 2024

NIG

103/10 in 19.0 5.42

HEAD TO HEAD

TEAMS PREVIEW

Uganda Preview

Having steamrolled through nearly every team in this tournament, Uganda, a well-rounded and experienced unit, recently secured a 23-run victory over Nigeria. Batting first, Uganda displayed formidable strength against Nigeria's bowling attack, scoring 151 runs for 8 wickets. Their middle and lower order proved crucial, forming a 50+ run partnership after the loss of the fourth wicket. The Ugandan batters successfully attacked Nigeria's strongest bowlers, excelling against both spinners and pacers, and hitting to all parts of the ground. With six talented hitters and classy batsmen, Uganda established a strong foundation in this match.

As mentioned earlier, when Uganda was struggling at 4-39, Dinesh Nakrani's 32 runs, including 3 sixes, played a pivotal role in pushing the team past the 100-run mark. Nakrani's powerful hitting and classy shots were complemented by Fred Achelam's quickfire 28 off 17 balls, which included 2 fours and 2 sixes. Achelam's aggressive innings provided a stable platform for Alpesh Ramjani (15 off 11) and Cosmas Kyewuta (16 off 10) to finish the innings strongly. While openers Robinson Obuya (9 runs) and Shrideep Mangela struggled to find form, the middle order stepped up to save the day.

On the bowling front, Cosmas Kyewuta's 4-wicket haul was instrumental in dismantling the Nigerian batting lineup. Alpesh Ramjani and Henry Ssenyondo also played crucial roles in controlling the opposition's scoring rate, maintaining economical figures.

Throughout the tournament, Uganda has demonstrated dominance, winning 6 out of 6 matches when batting first and 2 out of 2 when bowling first. The team has consistently scored over 147 runs in all but three matches, averaging nearly 160 runs per game. 

Henry Ssenyondo leads the tournament's wicket-taking charts with 18 wickets, while Alpesh Ramjani's economical bowling (11.36 runs per over) has been invaluable. Opener Robinson Obuya, with 222 runs and 15 sixes, is the tournament's leading run-scorer and six-hitter. Rizat Ali Shah's contribution of 144 runs further adds to Uganda's multi-dimensional batting lineup, making them a formidable force heading into the finals.

Uganda Predicted Playing XI:

Simon Ssesazi, Robinson Obuya, Raghav Dhawan, Shrideep Mangela, Riazat Ali Shah (c), Fred Achelam (wk),Dinesh Nakrani, Cosmas Kyewuta, Frank Nsubuga, Henry Ssenyondo, Alpesh Ramjani

Uganda Actual Playing XI:

Riazat Ali Shah, Shrideep Mangela, Cosmas Kyewuta, Raghav Dhawan, Juma Miyagi, Fred Achelam, Robinson Obuya, Frank Nsubuga, Henry Ssenyondo, Dinesh Nakrani, Alpesh Ramjani

Nigeria Preview

Nigeria secured a convincing 37-run victory over Rwanda, marking their second consecutive win after a loss to Uganda on December 12th. Batting first, Nigeria's openers, Sulaimon Runsewe and Isaac Dandlani, struggled to get going, with Runsewe being dismissed for a duck. However, a 44-run partnership between Vincent Adewoye (34 runs) and Olayinka Olayele (34 runs) stabilized the innings. Ridwan Abdulkareem's quickfire 19 runs off 8 balls further boosted the total, helping Nigeria reach 151/8.

On the bowling front, Peter Aho and Isaac Okpe claimed two wickets each, while spinners Sylvester Okpe and Mohammed Taiwo bowled economically, restricting Rwanda to 114/7. Despite their recent win, Nigeria faces a daunting task in the finals against Uganda, a team they have struggled to beat. 

While the Nigerian batting unit has shown promise, consistency from the middle order is crucial, especially with the top three struggling to contribute significantly. Nigeria has a modest record when batting first, averaging 143.6 runs and winning only 2 out of 7 matches. However, they have a strong record when bowling first, winning both matches.

At the Gahanga International Stadium, Nigeria has a balanced record of 8 wins and 8 losses. They will aim to extend their recent two-match winning streak at this venue. Selim Salau and Sylvester Okpe are Nigeria's leading run-scorers, while Peter Aho and Isaac Okpe are their top wicket-takers.

Nigeria Predicted Playing XI:

Sulaimon Runsewe (wk), Isaac Danladi, Selim Salau, Olayinka Elijah Olaleye, Vincent Adewoye, Sylvester Okpe (c), Isaac Okpe, Ridwan Abdulkareem, Peter Aho, Mohameed Taiwo, Ifeanyichukwu Uboh

Nigeria Actual Playing XI:

Olayinka Elijah Olaleye, Isaac Danladi, Isaac Okpe, Sylvester Okpe, Vincent Adewoye, Selim Salau , Sulaimon Runsewe, Ifeanyichukwu Uboh, Peter Aho, Ridwan Abdulkareem, Taiwo Mohammed

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

Given the current weather conditions in Kigali, with a temperature of 71 degrees Fahrenheit (22 degrees Celsius), it seems ideal for a great day of cricket. However, the forecast predicts a 45% chance of scattered thunderstorms, which could significantly impact the match if they persist from 5 PM to 8 PM local time. The wind speed is around 2 miles per hour, and the humidity level is currently 80%.

UGA vs NIG Pitch Report

Given Gahanga International Cricket Stadium's reputation as a batter-friendly pitch, especially in the later stages of the innings, both teams will benefit from having powerful hitters lower down the order. This venue is ideal for batsmen who can attack and clear the boundaries with ease, as it provides ample opportunities to showcase their power-hitting abilities.

While the pitch favors teams batting first, it also offers a decent advantage to the second batting team, allowing them to build momentum and score runs freely. Considering the high-scoring nature of matches played at this stadium, with an average score of over 150 runs in the first 18 games, this final could be a high-scoring affair.

Toss: To Bat

Considering the tournament's trend, where teams batting first have a higher chance of winning, especially if they have strong finishers, the choice between batting or bowling first becomes crucial. The current record of 10-8 in favor of teams batting first suggests that the pitch is better suited for aggressive batting, particularly in the latter stages of the innings.

Given the recent matches where teams batting first capitalized on the pitch conditions and then used it to their advantage while bowling, it's clear that the team choosing to bat first has a significant edge.