Nigeria’s men’s and women’s U-18 hockey teams both finished on the podium after winning bronze medals at the inaugural U-18 Hockey Youth Africa Cup in Nairobi, Kenya.
The National Sports Commission, in a statement shared on its X handle, confirmed that the women’s team secured a 4-3 victory over Ghana in the third-place playoff, while the men thrashed Uganda 15-2 to also finish third.
Nigeria’s women impressed throughout the tournament, defeating South Africa, Uganda and Ghana during the group stage before overcoming Ghana once again in the battle for bronze.
The men also enjoyed a solid campaign, playing out a 7-7 draw with South Africa and recording wins over Ghana and Uganda before completing their run with a convincing victory over Uganda in the third-place match.
The tournament, which took place from August 6 to 8, was also used as Africa’s qualifying event for the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup.
Only the top two teams in each gender category earned tickets to the World Cup, meaning Nigeria’s third-place finishes fell short of qualification.
However, the two bronze medals represent a positive outing for Nigeria’s emerging hockey talents, giving the young teams valuable experience at continental level and an opportunity to build on their performances ahead of future competitions.
