By 
Following their official flag-off to Nigeria on March 25, Uganda’s Baby Cricket Cranes are now fully locked in on their ICC U19 Cricket World Cup Africa Qualifier campaign.
With only one World Cup spot available, the young cricketers face a tough test against some of the continent’s best teams as they aim to secure a ticket to the 2026 U19 Cricket World Cup, co-hosted by Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Uganda will have a brief wait before kicking off their campaign, sitting out the opening matchday on March 28. Their journey begins on March 29 against Tanzania at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) Cricket Oval, a match they must win to set the tone for the tournament.
The real test arrives the next day, March 30, with a heated East African derby against Kenya at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) Cricket Oval. Matches between the two nations are always intense, and this clash is expected to be no different.
After a well deserved rest on March 31, Uganda will resume their campaign against Sierra Leone on April 1 at TBS Oval. The fixtures only get tougher as they face defending champions Namibia on April 2 at UNILAG Oval, a potential decider in the qualification race.
The Baby Cricket Cranes will wrap up their campaign on April 6 with a showdown against hosts Nigeria at TBS Oval, a match that could prove pivotal in determining the tournament winner.
Uganda U-19 Schedule at the Africa Qualifier:
- March 29: vs Tanzania – TBS Cricket Oval
- March 30: vs Kenya – UNILAG Cricket Oval
- April 1: vs Sierra Leone – TBS Cricket Oval
- April 2: vs Namibia – UNILAG Cricket Oval
- April 6: vs Nigeria – TBS Cricket Oval
All matches will begin at 9:30 AM local time, and with only the top team securing a World Cup berth, Uganda will need to be at their very best.
Led by skipper Gerald Olipa, the Baby Cricket Cranes are eager to reclaim their spot on the global stage after last qualifying in 2022. The team has been preparing rigorously, knowing that each match will require discipline, skill, and resilience to overcome their opponents.
Traveling squad
Gerald Olipa (C), Devansh Patel, Richard Sohera, Christopher Kidega, Jonathan Nyiiro, Robert Owili, Conrad Lubwama, Abraiz Mir Ali, Peter Ochen, Musa Majid Ramathan, Gurjivan Singh, Ali Balidawa, Aziz Tandia and Jordan Oketcho.
With a grueling schedule ahead, Uganda must start strong and maintain consistency to outplay their rivals and book their place in the 2026 U19 Cricket World Cup.
