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Nigeria’s men’s and women’s hockey teams have both secured bronze medals at the inaugural U18 Hockey Youth Africa Cup in Nairobi, Kenya.
According to the National Sports Commission (NSC) in a statement on their X handle, the women’s team defeated Ghana 4-3 in the third-place playoff, while the men’s team produced a commanding 15-2 victory over Uganda to also finish third.
The women’s side enjoyed an impressive tournament run, recording victories over South Africa, Uganda and Ghana in the group stage before defeating Ghana again in the bronze medal match.
The men’s team also recorded a strong campaign, drawing 7-7 with South Africa and securing victories over Ghana and Uganda before sealing bronze against Uganda.
The competition, held from 6-8 August, served as Africa’s qualification tournament for the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup, with the top two teams in each gender securing qualification.
While Nigeria’s third-place finishes were not enough to secure World Cup qualification, the double podium finish gives the country’s next generation of hockey players valuable continental experience and another platform on which to build.
