By Oluchi Tobex Tobe-Chukwu FSWAN MCS CSS
Nigeria’s under-18 men’s and women’s hockey teams have both secured bronze medals at the inaugural U18 Hockey5s Youth Africa Cup in Nairobi, Kenya.
The women’s team defeated Ghana 4-3 in a tightly contested third-place playoff, while the men’s team produced a commanding 15-2 victory over Uganda to also finish third on the continent.
The women’s side enjoyed an impressive tournament run, recording victories over South Africa, Uganda, and Ghana in the group stage before defeating Ghana once again in the bronze medal match.
Similarly, the men’s team recorded a strong campaign, drawing 7-7 with South Africa and securing group-stage victories over Ghana and Uganda before sealing their bronze medal with a dominant final performance against the Ugandans.
The competition, held from August 6 to August 8, served as Africa’s official qualification tournament for the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup, with the top two teams in each gender securing the coveted global tickets.
While Nigeria’s third-place finishes narrowly missed the World Cup qualification mark, the double podium finish provides the country’s next generation of hockey players with valuable continental experience and a solid platform on which to build for the future.
The National Sports Commission officially congratulated both teams, their technical coaches, and officials for representing Nigeria with sheer determination and quality on the international stage.
