The South African men’s hockey team sealed their place in the 2025 African Hockey Cup of Nations final in emphatic style, powering to an 11–3 victory over Ghana in Ismailia on Wednesday. After a competitive and physical opening quarter, South Africa gradually took control and delivered a statement performance worthy of defending champions. The early exchanges saw South Africa win a penalty corner, with Mustapha Cassiem and Sam Mvimbi both testing the Ghanaian goalkeeper in quick succession. A heavy collision moments later saw Ghana’s Stephan Asamoah shown a yellow card, as the contest’s intensity rose sharply. South Africa broke the deadlock when Keenan Horne was perfectly placed to finish after a deft deflection from Hans Neethling off Nic Spooner’s pass, giving the men in green and gold a 1–0 lead at the first break. Ghana equalised early in the second quarter through Emmanuel Makaba, who converted a penalty stroke after the ball struck Sam Mvimbi on the line. But South Africa responded swiftly, with Dayaan Cassiem reacting first to a loose ball in the circle to restore the lead with a precise finish. There was no shortage of drama as South Africa missed a chance to extend their advantage when Mustapha Cassiem sent a penalty stroke wide, but Sam Mvimbi made amends shortly after, converting another stroke to make it 3–1. Ghana, however, refused to fade and pulled one back through Benjamin Kwofie before halftime to keep the contest alive at 3–2. The defending champions started the second half with intent. Zenani Kraai finished smartly from a superb Calvin Davis diagonal to restore the two-goal cushion, before Ryan Mann marked his first international goal to make it 5–2. From there, South Africa found their rhythm and put on a finishing masterclass, Dayaan Cassiem added a sublime reverse-stick strike, Mustapha Cassiem fired home from a penalty corner, and Jaydon Brooker netted another set-piece to close out the third quarter with South Africa leading 8–2. Debutant Brendan du Toit was introduced in the final quarter to earn his first international cap, while Sihle Ngubane fired home a crisp strike to bring up South Africa’s ninth. Ghana managed a consolation through Christopher Dogbe, but the South Africans were far from done. Keenan Horne added his second after excellent work from Dayaan Cassiem, and Hans Neethling rounded off the scoring with a neat finish amid a goalmouth scramble, completing an 11–3 rout. The victory means South Africa and Egypt have officially qualified for the final, setting up yet another mouth-watering clash between the two continental powerhouses. The teams will enjoy a rest day on Thursday before wrapping up the group stage on Friday ahead of Saturday’s showpiece final. Source: SAhockey.co.za | Oct 15, 2025

The South African women’s hockey team were left frustrated after being held to a 0–0 draw by Kenya in their third match of the 2025 African Hockey Cup of Nations in Ismailia on Wednesday. Despite enjoying the bulk of possession and creating numerous chances, the South Africans were unable to find a way past a resolute Kenyan defence. Before the match, there were two significant milestones celebrated. Quanita Bobbs became just the 11th South African woman to reach 200 international caps, a remarkable testament to her consistency and leadership over more than a decade at the top level. Edith Molikoe also marked her 50th appearance, joining a small group of players to have achieved that milestone in both indoor and outdoor formats — highlighting her value across all forms of the game. Once the action began, South Africa asserted themselves early and dictated the tempo throughout. They moved the ball with purpose, pressed high up the field, and created a steady flow of scoring opportunities. However, an inspired performance from the Kenyan defence, led superbly by goalkeeper Quinton Okore, kept the defending champions at bay. The South Africans continued to dominate possession and territory in the second half, but despite earning a succession of penalty corners and maintaining pressure, the elusive breakthrough never came. Kenya’s defensive structure held firm, frustrating every attack and denying South Africa the goal that their effort and intent perhaps deserved. The result keeps South Africa unbeaten in the tournament, but also means they will need to avoid defeat against Nigeria on Friday to secure their place in Sunday’s African Cup of Nations final. Source: SAhockey.co.za | Oct 15, 2025

In one of African hockey’s most fiercely contested rivalries, South Africa and Egypt played out a thrilling 3–3 draw in Ismailia on Monday evening — a result that perfectly reflected the intensity and drama of the occasion. The defending champions made a strong start and opened the scoring through Calvin Davis, who fired a low, powerful drag flick into the bottom corner from a penalty corner to give South Africa an early lead. As the game grew in physicality and tempo, South Africa were forced to absorb pressure and navigate several card suspensions that made the task even more demanding. Despite this, the visitors continued to threaten, earning a series of penalty corners that went unconverted before Egypt were awarded a penalty stroke. However, debutant Cullin de Jager produced a superb save to preserve the advantage. The lead was soon doubled as captain Dayaan Cassiem showcased his trademark flair, finding a sliver of space and unleashing a brilliant reverse-stick strike to make it 2–0. Egypt, though, hit back immediately through Mostafa Ragab, capitalising on a lapse in defensive focus to halve the deficit before halftime. The hosts carried that momentum into the second half, levelling through a Mohamed Adel penalty corner and then completing the turnaround when Mamdouh struck from another set piece to make it 3–2 heading into the final quarter. Refusing to yield, South Africa dug deep, and it was once again Dayaan Cassiem who led from the front — blasting home another superb reverse-stick effort to restore parity at 3–3. Both sides pushed for a winner in the closing stages, but neither could find the decisive moment, leaving the spoils shared in a pulsating encounter that once again underlined why this fixture remains the pinnacle of African hockey rivalry. South Africa now turn their attention to their next fixture as they continue their campaign to defend their continental crown. Source: SAhockey.co.za | Oct 14, 2025

The South African women’s hockey team continued their winning start to the 2025 African Hockey Cup of Nations with a hard-fought 3–2 victory over Ghana in Ismailia on Monday evening. After their emphatic opening win over Egypt, the South Africans knew this clash against the continent’s second-ranked side would be a far sterner test — and so it proved. The opening exchanges saw South Africa control possession and territory, and they were handed a golden opportunity to take the lead when Hannah Pearce’s shot was stopped illegally on the line. However, Quanita Bobbs was unable to capitalise, firing her penalty stroke wide of the post. The breakthrough eventually came late in the first quarter when Thati Zulu produced a moment of brilliance, threading a superb pass into space for Ongeziwe Mali, who took the ball wide before unleashing a composed finish to make it 1–0 at the break. Early in the second quarter, South Africa doubled their advantage through a low and powerful penalty corner strike from Jean-Leigh du Toit, before Mali added her second with a sharp first-time finish to stretch the lead to 3–0. But Ghana refused to roll over and hit back strongly before halftime, converting two penalty corners through Adwoa Amoah and Mavis Berko to narrow the gap to just one. The second half was a tense affair, with the South Africans showing resilience under pressure. The defending champions stood firm, successfully defending three Ghanaian penalty corners and managing two green card suspensions to hold on for a vital three points. The result keeps South Africa perfect with six points from two games, as they continue their quest to defend their continental crown. Source: SAhockey.co.za | Oct 14, 2025

The South African women’s hockey team made the perfect start to their 2025 African Hockey Cup of Nations campaign, sweeping past hosts Egypt with a commanding 10–0 victory in Ismailia on Sunday. It was a memorable day for Caylin Maree, Jeanri Thomas, and Ane Janse van Vuuren, who all earned their first senior international caps in the green and gold. South Africa wasted no time asserting their authority, taking the lead inside the opening three minutes when Thati Zulu finished emphatically on the reverse after a sharp move from Taheera Augousti. Moments before the end of the first quarter, Ntsopa Mokoena doubled the advantage, showing composure to round the goalkeeper and slot home with ease. The lead grew further in the second quarter as Hannah Pearce fired home a low drag flick from a penalty corner to make it 3–0. A slick passing exchange then saw Ongeziwe Mali receive a precise ball from Maree, turn cleverly, and finish with typical calmness for the fourth. The first-half dominance was capped when Kayla de Waal converted after a dazzling run from Stephanie Botha, sending South Africa into the break 5–0 up. The third quarter saw the hosts dig deep to resist the South African pressure, but the floodgates reopened in the final phase. Augousti reacted quickest to a rebound to lift home her first, before adding another with a crisp reverse strike from a Tegan Fourie assist. De Waal added her second soon after to make it eight, Fourie got on the scoresheet herself with a thumping drag flick, and Zulu rounded off the double figures with a brilliant finish from a tight angle. It was a clinical, confident display from the reigning African champions, who now shift focus to Tuesday’s clash with Ghana — a fixture that promises another stern test in their pursuit of continental glory. Source: SAhockey.co.za | Oct 12, 2025