The South African women’s hockey team made the perfect start to their 2025 African Hockey Cup of Nations campaign, sweeping past hosts Egypt with a commanding 10–0 victory in Ismailia on Sunday.
It was a memorable day for Caylin Maree, Jeanri Thomas, and Ane Janse van Vuuren, who all earned their first senior international caps in the green and gold.
South Africa wasted no time asserting their authority, taking the lead inside the opening three minutes when Thati Zulu finished emphatically on the reverse after a sharp move from Taheera Augousti.
Moments before the end of the first quarter, Ntsopa Mokoena doubled the advantage, showing composure to round the goalkeeper and slot home with ease.
The lead grew further in the second quarter as Hannah Pearce fired home a low drag flick from a penalty corner to make it 3–0. A slick passing exchange then saw Ongeziwe Mali receive a precise ball from Maree, turn cleverly, and finish with typical calmness for the fourth. The first-half dominance was capped when Kayla de Waal converted after a dazzling run from Stephanie Botha, sending South Africa into the break 5–0 up.
The third quarter saw the hosts dig deep to resist the South African pressure, but the floodgates reopened in the final phase. Augousti reacted quickest to a rebound to lift home her first, before adding another with a crisp reverse strike from a Tegan Fourie assist.
De Waal added her second soon after to make it eight, Fourie got on the scoresheet herself with a thumping drag flick, and Zulu rounded off the double figures with a brilliant finish from a tight angle.
It was a clinical, confident display from the reigning African champions, who now shift focus to Tuesday’s clash with Ghana — a fixture that promises another stern test in their pursuit of continental glory.
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