Kenya seek redemption against Ghana in bronze medal match

Kenya's Flavian Mutiva in action during the Paris Olympic qualifiers. [Africa Hockey Union]

The national women’s team will be seeking to end the African Hockey Road to Paris 2024 qualifiers on the front foot when they renew their rivalry with Ghana in the third place playoffs at the University of Pretoria in South Africa on Saturday.

It was heartbreak and tears for Kenya on Friday after they lost 1-0 to Nigeria in the semifinals, a match that cost them a ticket to France next year.

Johnson Benedicta scored a third minute penalty corner, a deflected shot that saw Nigeria put one foot on the plane to Paris next year.

Even though Kenya dominated the match thereafter with 11 penalty corners and numerous field play goal scoring opportunities, the girls could not break down the Nigerian defence.

Kenya defeated Zambia 4-0, Ghana 3-2 in addition to their 1-0 win against Namibia to finish top of Group B.

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 Nigeria in the finals off the qualifiers.

The hosts thrashed Ghana 7-0 in the semifinals on Friday.