Nigeria A vs Sierra Leone: match preview on 26 September 2026

Nigeria A should win again. They have won all four of their matches in this tournament, including a 113:80 victory over Sierra Leone on 21 September, and they play at home where they have not lost. Sierra Leone have improved since then, beating Ghana twice in a row, but they still sit third in the table with a negative run rate across their last five matches.

Unbeaten at home

Nigeria A are top of the table with 6 points from 4 matches, and every one of those victories has come without dropping a game. Their last four results read 113:112, 66:65, 139:120, and 113:80 — three of those decided by a single run or a narrow margin. They have scored 431 runs while conceding 377 across those four fixtures, showing they can both bat deep and restrict opposition under pressure.

Sierra Leone's mixed record

Sierra Leone have won 2 of their last 5 matches, both against Ghana away from home, but they have lost 3, including the 80:113 defeat to Nigeria A. Their run rate over those five games is 473 scored against 494 conceded. They travel to face the tournament leaders having just won two consecutive matches, which gives them momentum but not consistency.

The head-to-head edge

The only meeting between these sides this tournament came on 21 September, when Nigeria A won by 33 runs at home. That result sits alongside Nigeria A's perfect record against them this series.

Table context

Nigeria A lead with 6 points from 4 matches, while Sierra Leone have 5 points from 3 games. A win for the hosts would extend their lead at the top, while Sierra Leone need points to keep their tournament hopes alive. The stakes are different for each side — Nigeria A are consolidating their position, Sierra Leone are fighting to stay in contention.

Scoreline prediction

Based on the previous meeting and Nigeria A's home record, a margin of around 20 to 30 runs is expected. Nigeria A scored 113 against Sierra Leone last time; Sierra Leone have not yet shown they can chase targets of that size away from home. A scoreline of 120:95 or similar would fit the pattern.