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

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