Kenya renew rivalry with Nigeria in fifth place playoffs

Bethwel Masambu of Kenya in action during the Olympic Qualifiers.[Africa Hockey Federation]

The national men’s team will face off against Nigeria in the fifth place classification playoff match in Pretoria on Saturday from 2.45pm Kenyan time ahead of the African Hockey Road to Paris 2024 qualifiers finals.

Kenya bowed out of the Paris Olympic Games qualifiers on Wednesday when they lost 3-1 to Ghana in a penultimate preliminary group match.

Kenya began the tournament with a 2-0 defeat in the hands of Egypt before defeating Namibia 1-0.

Their loss to Ghana left them third in Group B standings and out of Paris games.

On Thursday, they defeated Zimbabwe 2-1 in the fifth place semis playoffs to set a date with Nigeria.

Nigeria and Zambia will face off in the 7/8 classification playoffs.

The men’s and women’s teams that win the tournament will seal their berths at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.

The team that finishes as the runner-up in the men’s competition will get a second opportunity to qualify for the Olympics, at the FIH Hockey Olympic Qualifiers 2024.

Meanwhile, South Africa will face off against Egypt in the finals off the qualifiers.

The hosts thrashed Ghana 7-0 in the semifinals on Friday while Egypt swept out Uganda 9-1 in the other semis.

Uganda and Ghana will play in the third place playoffs.