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.
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 half-time, 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.
Photo: Jan van Zyl
