KAMPALA, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Kenya on Monday beat Nigeria by eight wickets with 16 balls remaining in the opening match of the 2019 International Cricket Council (ICC) men's Twenty20 World Cup Africa final qualifiers.

After a morning down pour, the ICC decided the teams play 15 ovals instead of 20 here in the capital Kampala.

Nigeria elected to bat and put on 105/5.

Leke Oyede was Nigeria's top scorer with 27 runs, while Isaac Okpe picked 19 runs and Ovais Yousof had 14 runs.

Kenya later chased with ease to put on 106/2. Dhiren Gondaria was in excellent form when he picked 47 runs, while Alex Obanda picked 27 runs.

"This has been a good start for us and we need to keep the same momentum," said Kenya's Obanda.

Th other games to be played later will see hosts Uganda battle Botswana and Ghana facing favourites Namibia.

The six teams are playing on a round-and-robin base with the top two qualifying to represent Africa at the ICC Men's Twenty20 World Cup qualifier in the United Arab Emirates later this year - where six teams will advance to the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia in October next year.

The two qualifiers from Africa will join Papua New Guinea, UAE, Hong Kong of China, Ireland, the Netherlands, Oman, Scotland and Zimbabwe in the global qualifier, which takes place Oct. 11-Nov. 3.