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Both men’s and women’s national hockey teams will be in the hunt for a ticket to the inaugural field hockey five-aside 2024 Oman World Cup through the upcoming maiden Africa Hockey in Ismailia, Egypt from Saturday.

A total of ten teams split into the ladies’ and men’s divisions will play concurrently in the five-day competition that will include continental heavyweights of South Africa, Egypt and Nigeria.

The hockey showpiece will have the top four rankings playoffs in the men’s division and another top four rankings playoffs in the women’s category on Thursday next week.

Western Jaguars head coach Mike Malungu is among the technical bench representing the coaches from the coaching and development committee that concluded its intensified training at the City Park Stadium. The delegation is set to depart for Egypt this Thursday.

The teams’ technical bench named the teams to carry the national flag on away grounds where continental field hockey rivalry will be renewed in the absence of Ghana in a crucial event that will shape up the first 5s competition rankings.

As per the current 11-aside field hockey continental rankings, the South African men’s team is placed first while Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Zambia follow in that order respectively.

Maiden competition

In the women’s category, South Africa is back in the first place as Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Egypt, Ghana and Zambia follow in that order.

Kenya and Zambia will be keen to change the course of the ranking in the maiden competition where South Africa, Egypt and Nigeria will step in as the top-ranked teams.

In the women’s category, South Africa and Kenya will stage the highlight match. The two top-ranked teams will have continental hockey enthusiasts on the edge of their seats to witness who qualifies for the global competition.

Other contestants will include the hosts Egypt, Nambia and Egypt.

Meanwhile, a total of five Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) officials have been commissioned by the African Hockey Federation to oversee the competition.

The officials include KHU chairman Nashon Randiek, technical officials duo of Peter Mwathe and Jackline Okumu alongside the national umpire duo of Titus Ngolia and Charity Majimbo.