African Games 2023/24

African Games cricket marks the debut of the sport as a medal event at the continental multi-sport gathering. The competition arrived at the 13th edition of the games, held in Accra, Ghana, in March 2024, having been added as an experimental sport for that year. Originally scheduled for 2023, the tournament took place under the auspices of the African Games, an initiative founded in 1965 in Brazzaville, Congo, and now managed by the African Union and related Olympic bodies.

The cricket programme featured both men’s and women’s Twenty20 competitions. Eight teams entered each category, split into two groups of four. In the men’s section, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya and Ghana formed one group, while Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Nigeria and Namibia made up the other. The top two from each group progressed to the semi-finals. Zimbabwe claimed the gold medal by defeating Namibia by eight wickets in the final, with Uganda securing bronze against Kenya.

The women’s tournament followed a similar structure. Namibia, South Africa, Nigeria and Tanzania competed in Group A, while Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Uganda were placed in Group B. Zimbabwe won the title after defeating South Africa in the final; the match required a Super Over to decide the winner following a tie in regular play. Both titles remain with Zimbabwe.

Cricket is not a permanent fixture at the African Games. Its inclusion for 2024 was confirmed as a trial, with a return planned for 2027 in Egypt. Unlike domestic or single-sport continental tournaments, this event operates within a multi-sport framework governed by Olympic institutions rather than cricket-specific bodies. There is no promotion or relegation, as the competition involves national teams selected for the games rather than club sides.