Nigeria’s Women Join South Africa in the Semi Finals of the African Hockey Olympic Qualifier

• Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana join South Africa in the women's semi-finals to be played on Friday
• South Africa, Ghana, Uganda and Egypt have qualified for the men's semi-finals on the same day
• The Road to Paris tournament to decide the continent's representatives is hosted by South Africa

Africa's best hockey nations are currently fighting for a place at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The University of Pretoria is hosting the week-long qualification tournament which will see one men's and women's team book their tickets to Paris.

The positional playoffs are scheduled for Thursday, while the semi-finals will all be played on Friday. Sunday is the day allocated for the grand finals.

Nigeria's women earned their place in the semi-finals with a thrilling 2-1 win over Zimbabwe. Comfort Saturday scored both goals, with her winner coming from a penalty corner five minutes from time.

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Ghana's women crushed Zambia 7-1, with Mavis Berko and Doris Antwi both grabbing a brace. Grace Bwire scored Kenya's only goal as they scraped into the semis with a 1-0 win over Namibia.

In the men's division, South Africa confirmed their place in the semi-finals with an emphatic 11-0 win over Uganda, as reported by SA Hockey, who still edged out Nigeria and Zimbabwe on goal difference.

Nigeria cost Zimbabwe a place in the semi-finals in heart-breaking fashion. Nigeria were 2-0 up in 24 minutes, but Zimbabwe had clawed back a 3-2 lead with 15 minutes to play.

James Samaila had the final say, however, with two more goals for Nigeria, the winner coming from a penalty corner in the final minute.

Egypt topped the other group with a 4-1 win over Zambia, thanks to a hat-trick by Hossameldin Ragab.

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