A capacity crowd in Pretoria saw the South African Hockey Women secure themselves a place at the Paris Olympics with a resounding victory over Nigeria, at the University of Pretoria in Tshwane, South Africa, on Sunday, 5 November, 2023.
South Africa got the match off to a perfect start as Tarryn Lombard deflected home a Bobbs penalty corner. Lombard doubled both her and the teams tally with a deflection from a Zulu shot and South Africa led at the first interval 2-0.
The second quarter saw the hosts ramp home their dominance as Quanita Bobbs smashed home on the reverse after good work from Thati Zulu and Jean-Leigh du Toit sent a corner into the roof of the net. Bianca Wood finished after good work from Kristen Paton before Taheera Augousti scored a similar strike to Bobbs to make it 6-0 at the half time interval.
A further two goals were added in the third quarter. Tarryn Lombard scored her hat-trick deflection before Paris-Gail Isaacs scored her first international goal. It was merely a formality until the South Africans were confirmed as champions of the qualifier.
The final quarter saw Kristen Paton score South Africa’s ninth goal and wrap up the victory for the South Africans by a score of 9-0.
Player of the match in the final Tarryn Lombard was delighted with her role in the victory: “Scoring a goal in the final is stuff of dreams, let alone a hat-trick. I’m absolutely stoked with the performance. We are incredibly pleased to qualify for the Olympic Games, the hard work starts here, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Earlier Kenya secured the bronze medal with a third consecutive victory over Ghana (one in the Commonwealth Games, two here in Pretoria). Played in punishing heat, unlike their meeting earlier in the tournament.
Kenya scored twice in the opening six minutes through Caroline Guchu and Naom Kemunto before Ghana pulled a goal back, through the brilliant Mavis Berko to set the game up superbly. Eleanor Chebet put the game to bed with a second half strike that sealed a 3-1 victory for the East Africans and the bronze medal.
Fixtures and Results at the African Hockey Road to Paris 2024 Qualifiers:
Sun 19 Oct: South Africa 10-0 Zimbabwe (Pool A)
Sun 19 Oct: Kenya 4-0 Zambia (Pool B)
Sun 19 Oct: Ghana 2-1 Namibia (Pool B)
Mon 30 Oct: Namibia 2-3 Zambia (Pool B)
Mon 30 Oct: Ghana 2-3 Kenya (Pool B)
Mon 30 Oct: Nigeria 0-4 South Africa (Pool A)
Wed 1 Nov: Nigeria 2-1 Zimbabwe (Pool A)
Wed 1 Nov: Ghana 7-1 Zambia (Pool B)
Wed 1 Nov: Kenya 1-0 Namibia (Pool B)
Thu 2 Nov (5//7): Zimbabwe 2-2 (0-3 SO) Namibia
Fri 3 Nov (SF): Kenya 0-1 Nigeria
Fri 3 Nov (SF): South Africa 7-0 Ghana
Sat 4 Nov 09:15 (5/6): Zambia 0-3 Namibia
Sun 5 Nov 12:00 (3/4): Ghana 1-3 Kenya
Sun 5 Nov 16:30 (Final): South Africa 9-1 Nigeria
SA Women’s Team (and Caps) for the African Hockey Road to Paris 2024 from Sunday, 29 October to Sunday 5 November, 2023 at the Pretoria University in Pretoria
Anelle van Deventer (42)
Erin Christie (93)
Onthatile Zulu (44)
Antonet Louw (14)
Jean-Leigh du Toit (28)
Paris-Gail Isaacs (0)
Aphiwe Dimba (0)
Kayla de Waal (10)
Quanita Bobbs (172
Bianca Wood (35)
Kayla Swarts (9)
Stephanie Botha (21
Celia Seerane (173)
Kristen Paton (68)
Taheera Augousti (16)
Edith Molikoe (22)
Ntsopa Mokoena (16)
Tarryn Lombard (80)
Main Photo Caption: Bianca Woods the South African women’s hockey leads her team’s celebrations after Sunday’s final against Nigeria in the African Hockey Road To Paris played at the University of Pretoria in Tshwane. The South Africa’s dominated Nigeria 9-0 to secure a guaranteed spot at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Photo: ES MEDIA
Photo 2 Caption: South African women’s hockey captain Quanita Bobbs dribbles her Nigerian opponent Iveren Agekwe. Photo: ES MEDIA
Photo 3 Caption: South African women’s hockey striker Onthatile Zulu tumbles whilst taking a reverse stick shot in Sunday’s final against Nigeria. The South Africans dominated Nigeria 9-0 to secure a guaranteed spot at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Photo: ES MEDIA
Photo 4 Caption: Midfielder Antonet Louw passes the ball in South Africa’s women final of the African Hockey Road To Paris against against Nigeria, played at the University of Pretoria. Photo: ES MEDIA
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