South Africa and Namibia will meet once again in the Nkosi Cup final after qualifying through the group stages, but it will be the home side who will go into Tuesday’s tournament final with the upper hand, having beaten the defending champions Namibia in their final group-stage match at the Wynberg Military Base in Cape Town on Monday, 16 December, 2025.
Namibia’s woes started earlier in the day, when they unexpectedly drew 3-all against Ireland in the earlier of their two fixtures who, though already been eliminated from the tournament final, were still looking for a win to end on a high.
They gave themselves the perfect chance with a sublime first half. Despite trailing 1-0 to a Kiana-Che Cormack goal, the Irish roared into a commanding 3-1 lead thanks to Caroline Spence, Ellen Robinson, and Chloe Brown.
They were able to hold the lead until the third quarter and were hopeful of getting their first Nkosi Cup win. But the Namibian showed why they are World Cup-bound as they fought back to salvage a draw through Tara Myburgh, and late on from Azaylee Philander, to maintain the Namibians’ undefeated status in the tournament.


In their second fixture, Namibia faced a dress rehearsal for the final against South Africa with both teams had already qualified, and it was South Africa who got the perfect start on captain Jamie Southgate’s 99th appearance, with a penalty stroke goal for Tegan Fourie.
Despite the best efforts, both teams’ attacks were struggling to break through the efficiency of the opposition team’s defense, but it was Namibian Jivanka Kruger who finished with a reactive strike just before half time, when all around her seemed to wait on the rebound.
She almost supplied a goal for Jerrica Bartlett, but the experienced campaigner was closed too quickly, and almost immediately it was the South Africans who led, when Edith Molikoe was given the ball at a tight angle, and you can imagine that Petro Stoffberg will be frustrated by the attempted save as it trickled through her.
Early in the second half Namibia drew level again through the constant goal threat Azaylee Philander, but Fourie converted a second stroke to reclaim the hosts’ advantage 3-2, with just one quarter remaining.


It was tough to pick who would find the next goal, if there was to be one, as both teams showed why they are World Cup-bound through defensive brilliance. And at the end of the day, neither managed to break through, and the teams shook hands on a 3-2 win for South Africa, heading into the final to decide the champion on Tuesday.
Nkosi Cup 2024 Final, in Swakopmund in Namibia, on Tuesday, 17 December
18:30: Namibia vs South Africa
Results on Monday, 16 December
Namibia 3 – 3 Ireland
South Africa 3 – 2 Namibia
Result on Sunday, 15 December
South Africa 4 – 1 Ireland
Results on Saturday, 14 December
Namibia 2 – 1 South Africa
Ireland 5 – 6 Namibia
Results on Friday, 13 December, 2024
South Africa 6 – 2 Ireland
Spar South Africa Women’s Indoor Hockey Team
2 Jamie Southgate (C)
6 Daniela de Oliveira
7 Edith Molikoe
8 Cailynn den Bakker
9 Kayla de Waal
14 Tegan Fourie
15 Malikah Hamza
16 Jessica Lardant
17 Laiken Brisset
23 Cheree Greyvenstein (GK)
25 Sarah Paget (GK)
29 Laylaa Davids
Team Manager: Tracey Flowers
Head Coach: A.J. Spieringshoek
Assistant Coach: Shahil Ramdin
Assistant Coach: Bryce West
Original Copy: SA Hockey, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: The fourth day pool-stage action at the 2024 Nkosi Cup saw Namibia draw against Ireland before losing to South Africa in their second tie, Tegan Fourie scoring twice for SA, and defending champs Namibia will face South Africa for the 2024 tournament title at the Wynberg Military Base in Cape Town at 6:30pm on Tuesday, 17 December, 2024. All Photos: Alette Klopper
Photo 2 Caption: Ireland were within a whisker of their debut Nkosi Cup win, when they held defending champions Namibia to a 3-all draw in Cape Town on Monday.
Photo 3 Caption: Namibia had their fair share of good moments against Ireland, with the dangerous Azaylee Philander always looking to take her team forward on the scoreboard.
Photo 4 Caption: Exceptional defence evident by both teams in the final group-stage match between Namibia and South Africa, with SA hosts carrying the day to the crowd’s applause
Photo 5 Caption: Edith Molikoe scored South Africa’s second goal to give the hosts a 2-1 half-time lead, before going on to their 3-2 upset win over the defending champions.