Junior Africa Cup [JAC] 2023 (Men/Women) – Participating Teams U21 – Updated

    Participating Teams U21 – Updated Participating Teams: Junior Africa Cup [JAC] 2023 (M/W) | 12-16 March 2023 Ismailia, Egypt 🇪🇬 (due to late withdrawal of GHANA 🇬🇭 & NIGERIA 🇳🇬 teams) Men South Africa Egypt Zimbabwe Kenya     Women South Africa Kenya Egypt Zimbabwe   #AfricaHockeyNews #HockeyInvites #JAC2023 #Egypt

    ACCC: Egypt’s Sharkia win men’s title after handing Ghana Exchequers hockey lessons

      Sharkia captain Hossam Ghobran scored twice in the final Egypt’s Sharkia have claimed the Africa Cup for Club Champions men’s title after thrashing Ghana’s Exchequers 4-2 in the final held at Sikh Union on Sunday. Sharkia, who have won the top honour without tasting defeat advanced to the final after topping group B of the tournament while Exchequers, were the best team in pool A. This was the second time Exchequers lost a final at Sikh Union as the club, fell 2-1 to Kenya Police in the Gold Cup held in May last year. The hotly-contested encounter saw the Ghanaians take an early lead in the 12th minute through Botsio Johny whose conversion from a short corner sailed past the line. Sharkia regrouped quickly and would draw level three minutes as skipper Ghobran Hossam finished off a good team move. Just before the Sharkia bench could sit down after celebrating the equalizer, Abdelmoneim Hamada gave them the second goal from a short corner. Sharkia made it clear that they were in for business as the team plundered home the third goal in the 24th minute through Hossam who was on top of his game. Exchequers pulled one back through Johny but their hopes of completing a comeback were extinguished in the 47th minute as Khaul Ayman drove home the fourth goal for Sharkia. Hossam said the two-year long hiatus from the continental championships helped them prepare adequately for this year’ edition. The club has now won the continental gong for a record 26 times. “We took a break from the continentals so as to prepare. I am glad that we have won it. It was quite some task considering that we came up against the top team in Ghana. We also played six matches in seven matches,” he said. Sharkia goalkeeper Hemid Mohammed was named the best in the tournament in the men’s category with Uko Martha of Delta Queens taking home the gong in the women’s side. GRA’s Vivian Narkour bagged the golden stick curtesy of the six goals she managed. The duo of Johny and Sunday Orinya of Nigeria’s Police Machine were declared the best scorers in the men’s catgeory. The two finished with eight goals apiece.   Source: mozzartsport.co.ke | February 18, 2023

      ACCC: Debutants Kisumu Lakers punch above weight to finish fourth

        Strathmore University and Blazers had a tournament to forget as watched foreign teams grace the podium Kenyan representatives in the Africa Cup for Club Champions tournament Lakers have given a good account of themselves after finishing fourth in their maiden appearance in the showpiece. Lakers came into the tournament as the least inexperienced team but the team, defied the odds to become the best performing local team in the contest that is scheduled to end on Sunday evening. The Kisumu based club would have finished in the top three but their efforts were frustrated by Nigeria’s Delta Queens who held them to a barren draw at Sikh Union in the penultimate group stage game. Had Lakers won the duel, they would have been guaranteed a place in the podium that will be graced by visiting teams at the expense of local ones. The Ghana Revenue Authority are expected to be declared champions during the closing ceremony as the outfit, finished top of the women’s group with thirteen points and twelve goals. The Ghanaian side, emerged the best on goal difference as they tied on points with their counterparts the Ghana Army who finished second although their goal difference was inferior to that of the former. Army rallied from a goal down to beat six-time champions Blazers of Kenya 3-2 in the final group stage game to finish second. Delta Queens settled will have to settle for bronze after garnering eleven points, a tally similar to that of Lakers but their superior goal difference will put their noses ahead of those of Kenyan girls. Against Army, Blazers who were looking to redeem themselves after punching below their weight in the tournament, took the lead through Rhoda Kuira who struck hardly two minutes into the game from a short corner. However, the lead lasted for only seven minutes as Army restored parity through Konadu Jennifer.  The Kenyan girls regained the lead four minutes after conceding through Joan Anjao but could not hold on the pressure from Army who leveled matters through Konadu again in the 33rd minute. Army got the match winning goal in the six minutes to the final whistle through Afriyie Lydia. Blazers would have forced a draw but Kuira failed to convert from the spot in the dying minutes of the game after she was hacked down in the area. Meanwhile, the recently crowned national champions Strathmore University wrapped their group stage matches sourly after falling 3-0 to eventual champions, GRA. Narkour Vivian struck twice from the field with skipper Elizabeth Opoku scoring from a short corner to guarantee GRA three more points and three goals.   Source: mozzartsport.co.ke | February 18, 2023

        Big plans lined up for Butali Warriors as club is likely to play friendly matches abroad

          The sugarmen are likely to finish third in the Africa Cup for Club Champions tournament National hockey champions Butali Warriors have tasted international action in the Africa Cup for Club Champions tournament that is slated to conclude on Sunday in Nairobi. The Butali Sugar Mills powered team, secured the license to participate in the tournament by virtue of being the men’s league champions. They stand to finish third in the tournament if they manage to whip Nigeria’s Police Machine in the playoff, scheduled for Sunday at Sikh Union. More international action could be on the pipeline for Butali in the future as the management is exploring the possibility of playing friendly matches in countries whose leagues are ranked higher than the Kenyan one. The club’s President Sanjay Patel revealed that the management, was interested in sending the team to South Africa and other countries for friendly matches that, will certainly help them gauge themselves against the continent’s crede de la creme. “We have big plans for the team including playing friendly matches outside the country. We are looking at countries whose leagues are stronger than ours, This, will help the players gain more experience,” he said. The club, that is under the tutelage of former Kenyan international Zack Aura has been enjoying sponsorship from the sugar company since 2014. Besides securing friendly matches with the best teams in the continent, the club boss disclosed that the idea of having a women’s team was also on the table.   Patel revealed that three unnamed teams had approached his office hoping to strike a deal but nothing had materialized as of yet. “It is an option we are also exploring. Three clubs had tabled proposals but we are yet to agree on anything,” he remarked. Meanwhile, Patel,petitioned the Cabinet Secretary for Sports Ababu Namwamba to channel more finances and support towards the game.   Source: mozzartsports.co.ke | February 18, 2023

          ACCC: Exchequers beat Jaguars to set up final with Sharkia

            Lakers have a slim chance of winning the women’s title Sharkia of Egypt will take on Ghanaian hockey giants Exchequers in the title decider of the Africa Cup for Club Champions tournament on Sunday at Sikh Union. Sharkia who won the tournament on Kenyan soil in 2017 booked a date with Exchequers after topping group B of the men’s tournament. The Egyptian played Nigeria’s Police Machine to 2-2 draw in the final group stage match, a result that saw them book a place in the final on goal difference grounds as they tied on points with the latter. Exchequers on the other hand, advanced to the final at the expense of Kenyan champions Butali Warriors who finished second in group A. Exchequers, beat Western Jaguars 3-2 in the final group stage game to also qualify on goal difference as their point tally was equal to that of Butali. Both Butali and Exchequers finished with thirteen points but the latter’s goal difference stood at fifteen goals, three more of the sugarmen. Butali had initially hoped that Jaguars will do them a favour by frustrating the Ghanaians but that, never came to pass and as a result, they will take on Police Machine in the playoff. The final is expected to kick off at 4:00pm East African time with the playoff, kicking off at noon. Meanwhile, Kenyan girls Lakers have a slim chance of clinching the women’s tournament. The Kisumu based club is ranked third with ten points, a tally that coincides with that of Delta Queens of Nigeria and log leaders GRA of Ghana who double up as the defending champions. GRA and Delta have a better goal difference than Lakers who are debuting at the continental level. Lakers will be hoping to beat Delta on Sunday and at the same time, pray that Strathmore University Scorpions sting GRA, outcomes, that will see them clinch the title. Source: mozzartsports.co.ke | February 18, 2023

            ACCC: Butali Warriors draw closer to the final after flooring Zamalek

              Jaguars are set to play Ghana’s Exchequers at 3:00 pm Kenyan hockey champions Butali Warriors have their calculators ready! This is after the sugarmen beat Egypt’s Zamalek 2-0 in their final group A match of the ongoing Africa Cup for Club Champions tournament at Sikh Union on Saturday morning. A field goal from Moses Ademba and a successful conversion from a short corner by Rana Suhail were enough to give Butali a win over Zamalek who finished third in the group. The win took Zack Aura‘s charges to the summit of the group with thirteen points and an equal number of goals. For Butali to seal a place in the final scheduled to be played on Sunday at the same venue, they have to finish top of the group. Standing between them and a place in the final is the outcome of the game between Ghanaian side Exchequers who are set to play the Kakamega-based Western Jaguars at 3:00 pm. Exchequers who are unbeaten just like Butali, are placed second with ten points and have fourteen goals against their name. Should the visiting team beat Jaguars, they will advance to the final at the expense of Butali who will have to contend with playing the playoff against the first runner up of group B. If Jaguars frustrate Exchequers, then Butali will be assured of playing the decider that will pit them against the top team from group B. Aura, regretted that the 2-2 draw against Exchequers dour days ago, has come back to haunt them as they find themselves on their knees praying for Jaguars to perform a miracle that will certainly benefit them. “I am really proud of my boys for the spirited performance they put in against Zamalek. We should have won by a bigger margin from the chances created. Truth be told, the draw against Exchequers is a threat to our march to the final. Hopefully, Jaguars will do us a favour,” said the former Kenyan international. Much as they lost the opportunity to battle for a medal by virtue of finishing third in the group, Zamalek midfielder Amr Elhady said the team picked up valuable lessons from the tournament. “We had a chance of finishing in the top two bracket but sadly, we lost to Butali. Obviously, we are disappointed with the results but at least, we have managed to learn a thing or two from the tournament. It was well organised,” he said. Meanwhile, the clash between Kenyan teams that are participating in the tournament in the women’s category; Strathmore University Scorpions and Lakers ended in favour of the latter who won the duel by a solitary goal. Pauline Atieno settled the contest after sounding the boards in the 37th minute through a field goal. Earlier on at Sikh Union, Kenya Police finished their group stage matches on a sour note after bowing 3-0 to Ghana Rwve.   Source: mozzartsports.co.ke | February 18, 2023