Kenya’s national women’s hockey team faced an unexpected defeat in the Africa qualifiers, losing their chance to represent the country at the Paris Olympic Games. The Blades of Kenya were eliminated after a tight 1-0 match against Nigeria in Pretoria, South Africa.
The game saw Nigeria take an early lead with a penalty corner, as defender Diana Awino deflected Benedicta Johnson’s shot into the net three minutes into the match.
Despite Kenya’s dominance in the second quarter, including a strong chance from Naomi Kemunto, Nigeria’s defence remained solid and prevented the equalizing goal.
The third quarter saw Kenya making another push, with Grace Bwire creating opportunities, but Nigeria’s goalkeeper’s impressive performance denied them from scoring.
As the game concluded 1-0 in favour of Nigeria, Kenya’s captain, Lyne Kipsang, expressed disappointment about the missed chances but acknowledged the nature of sports, emphasizing the importance of resilience and learning from the experience.
While Kenya missed the chance to participate in the Paris Olympics, Nigeria’s captain celebrated their qualification to the final. Expressing confidence in her team’s abilities, she highlighted their determination and adaptation, despite the initial weather challenges they faced upon arriving in Pretoria.
During the earlier matches, Kenya’s journey had been strong, topping Group B with convincing wins against Zambia, Ghana, and Namibia. However, their quest to secure an Olympic spot ended with an unfortunate loss to Nigeria.
