On Tuesday, June 3rd, 2025, the Kwibuka Women's T20 Cricket Tournament officially began at the Gahanga International Cricket Stadium in Rwanda, marking a significant moment in women's cricket and sports diplomacy.
The opening match kicked off at 9:30 AM local time with Rwanda showcasing remarkable cricket prowess to defeat Cameroon by an impressive margin of 91 runs. Rwanda’s captain, Marie Diane Bimenyimana, displayed stellar performance, earning her the title of Player of the Match.
Later in the morning session, Zimbabwe faced Nigeria in an equally riveting contest, clinching victory with a narrow margin of 6 runs.
The afternoon brought more excitement as Tanzania dominated Sierra Leone, a debutant in the tournament, winning by a huge margin of 105 runs. In another thrilling match, Brazil comfortably defeated Malawi by 7 wickets.
The action continues tomorrow at the iconic Gahanga International Cricket Stadium, where Sierra Leone will challenge Rwanda and Cameroon will clash against Uganda at 9:30 AM local time.
At 1:45 PM, Brazil will battle Nigeria, and reigning champions Uganda will face Malawi in a bid to retain their title.
This remarkable 11th edition of the Kwibuka Women's T20 Tournament transcends sport, serving as a tribute to the victims of the Genocide Against the Tutsi while leveraging the unifying power of cricket to foster peace, reconciliation, and resilience among nations.
Rwanda began its campaign with an outstanding victory over Cameroon, setting high expectations for the upcoming matches.