South Africa’s men’s hockey team began their Africa Cup of Nations title defence with a 3–1 victory over Kenya in Ismailia, Egypt, on Sunday afternoon. The opening day of action had seen the South Africans awarded a 5–0 walkover when Zambia failed to honour their fixture on Saturday, but Sunday’s clash against Kenya provided the first real test on the field for the defending champions. There was added significance to the occasion as Cullin de Jager, Ryan Mann, Ayakha Mthalane and Niel Raath were all handed their senior international debuts in the green and gold. After a cagey first quarter, the breakthrough came midway through the second period. Captain Dayaan Cassiem linked brilliantly with his brother Mustapha, who fired a pinpoint pass across goal for Keenan Horne to finish superbly on the reverse stick, a goal that showcased South Africa’s trademark attacking flair. The lead was doubled shortly after through a penalty corner as Mustapha Cassiem took charge and rifled home a drag flick to make it 2–0 at the halftime break. Kenya, to their credit, fought back in the third quarter and found a lifeline when Bethuel Masambu capitalised on a scrappy penalty corner, pulling one back despite South Africa’s control of possession and territory. Any hopes of a Kenyan comeback were, however, quickly extinguished when Calvin Davis converted from another penalty corner with a low and hard finish to restore the two-goal cushion and seal a 3–1 win for the South Africans. The defending champions will now turn their attention to a mouth-watering clash against hosts Egypt on Tuesday, a fixture that never fails to deliver intensity, passion, and plenty of drama. Source: SAhockey.co.za | Oct 12, 2025

South African Hockey is pleased to announce its dual ambitions as both the men’s and women’s national teams prepare to compete at the 12th Men’s and 9th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (ACN) in Ismailia, Egypt. The tournament, running from 11 to 18 October 2025, doubles as the African qualifying event for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup, with the champions in each gender earning direct qualification. South African Men: Title, Pride, and World Cup Ambition The men’s squad arrives in Egypt with both experience and expectation. South Africa is among the top-ranked African teams and has historically dominated the continental scene, with eight ACN titles to their name. Key Facts & Format Six teams will contest the men’s tournament: South Africa, Egypt (host), Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and Zambia. The format is round-robin, where every team plays each other from 11 to 17 October. The top two teams after this phase will contest the final on 18 October; the third and fourth placed teams will battle for bronze. The men’s champion earns Africa’s automatic slot for the 2026 Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup. Strengths, Challenges & Outlook South Africa’s depth, international experience, and consistency in continental play position them as one of the front-runners. Their challenge will be managing pressure as favourites and countering host-nation advantage, especially from Egypt. Should they maintain composure and tactical discipline, they have a strong shot at the title and World Cup qualification. South African Women: Aiming for Continued Continental Dominance The women’s side enters the tournament as defending champions, having won the last seven consecutive editions. Their aim in 2025 is clear: extend that streak to eight and secure Africa’s sole berth in the 2026 Women’s FIH Hockey World Cup. Team & Format Five nations will compete in the women’s tournament: South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Kenya, and Ghana. The format mirrors the men’s: round-robin from 11 to 17 October, followed by medal matches on 18 October. The women’s champion earns the direct World Cup spot. Squad Highlights & Momentum The women’s squad was officially announced in August 2025. It features a blend of seasoned campaigners and emerging talent. Notably, three players—Ane’ Janse van Vuuren, Caylin Maree, and Jeanri Thomas—will earn their first caps at the international level. Nine members of the Paris 2024 Olympic side have been retained, providing continuity at the top end. Critical Dates & Matchups 11 October (Opening Day): The men kick off with Ghana vs Kenya, followed by South Africa vs Zambia. In the women’s tournament, Kenya face Nigeria and Ghana take on Egypt. 18 October (Finals Day): Gold and bronze medal matches will take place across both tournaments. Media & Broadcast Information All matches will be streamed live on the African Hockey Federation Youtube channel. Source: SAhockey.co.za

The women’s side will open their quest for glory at 1:00 PM EAT, while the men will step onto the pitch later at 9:30 PM.  The 2025 Hockey Africa Cup of Nations kicks off today in Ismailia, Egypt, with both Kenya men’s and women’s national teams set to begin their campaigns. The women’s side will open their quest for glory at 1:00 PM East African Time, while the men will step onto the pitch later at 9:30 PM in a high-stakes opener against hosts Egypt. In other opening fixtures, the men’s category will feature Ghana facing Nigeria at 11:00 AM and South Africa meeting Zambia at 3:00 PM, while the women’s fixtures will see Ghana take on Egypt at 5:00 PM. For Kenya, this tournament represents both a continuation of progress and a test of resilience. The men’s national team, coached by Michael Malungu, will be aiming to improve on their fourth-place finish in the 2022 edition, where they narrowly lost 4–2 to Nigeria in the third-place playoff. The Kenyan squad features a blend of experienced players and exciting new talents — including Vincent Wesonga, Mathias Gularire, Brian Azeze and Linton Nayombe, who earned their first senior call-up after representing Kenya at the U21 Africa qualifiers in Namibia earlier this year. The women’s team, on the other hand, will look to replicate or even better their bronze medal finish from 2022, when they edged Zimbabwe 3–1 in post-match shootouts. Both sides have had a busy few months of preparation — a process that Malungu says has been both challenging and rewarding. “The preparations have been good so far, the boys are ready for the task ahead,” said Malungu ahead of the team’s departure. “Hockey, unlike other sports, is more of an amateur sport here in Kenya, so we don’t have the privilege of having the best of preparations. But we’ve made the most of what we have.” As the tournament begins, both Kenyan teams know the magnitude of the task ahead — facing Africa’s hockey giants such as South Africa, Egypt, and Ghana. For the women, early momentum will be crucial as they navigate a demanding fixture list, while the men’s side will have to contend with the home advantage Egypt will enjoy in the late-night opener. Day 1 fixtures: Men: Ghana vs Nigeria – 11am South Africa vs Zambia – 3pm Kenya vs Egypt – 9.30pm Women: Kenya vs Nigeria – 1pm Ghana vs Egypt – 5pm Source: Mozzartsport.co.ke | 11 Oct. 2025

Technical Panel | Africa Cup of Nations [ACN] – MEN 12th Edition & WOMEN 9th Edition

FIXTURES | Africa Cup of Nations [ACN] – MEN 12th Edition & WOMEN 9th Edition