August 08, 2026
For Kenya, the men’s title was the culmination of an impressive tournament on home soil and a significant achievement for a squad led by captain Kelvin Onyango.
Kenyans celebrated a historic double qualification at the inaugural U18 Hockey5s Youth Africa Cup after the hosts’ boys were crowned continental champions while the girls settled for silver at the Sikh Union Club in Nairobi.
Kenya’s boys defeated South Africa 6-5 in a thrilling final to claim the men’s gold medal and become the inaugural U18 Hockey5s Youth Africa Cup champions.
The victory capped an unbeaten campaign for the hosts, who had topped the preliminary standings after winning all three of their matches.
They carried that momentum into the decisive encounter, edging South Africa by a single goal in a closely contested final.
South Africa took silver, while Nigeria secured the men’s bronze medal after a commanding 15-2 victory over Uganda in the third-place playoff.
For Kenya, the men’s title was the culmination of an impressive tournament on home soil and a significant achievement for a squad led by captain Kelvin Onyango, the two-time KSSSA National MVP and 2026 national champion.
The girls also reached the final but were unable to complete the double, falling 11-6 to South Africa in the women’s championship match. The result handed South Africa the women’s gold medal, with Kenya taking silver after an impressive run to the final.
Nigeria claimed the bronze medal after edging Ghana 4-3 in the third-place playoff.
The biggest prize for both Kenyan teams, however, extends beyond their medals.
Both Kenya’s men’s and women’s teams have qualified for the inaugural FIH Youth Hockey5s World Cup, scheduled for December.
The qualification represents a significant milestone for the young players and gives Kenya representation at the first global championship for the U18 Hockey5s format.
The Youth Africa Cup was the first continental U18 championship played in the Hockey5s format, bringing together some of Africa’s leading youth hockey nations in Nairobi from Thursday 6 to Saturday, 8 August.
Kenya’s success also adds another chapter to the country’s growing association with Hockey5s. The men’s senior national team competed at the inaugural FIH Hockey5s World Cup in Muscat, Oman, in 2024, and the country’s next generation has now secured its place at the first youth edition.
The Nairobi tournament therefore ends with Kenya having achieved the central objective of sending both teams to the global stage.
The boys leave as Africa’s inaugural U18 Hockey5s champions, while the girls depart as silver medallists, and both will now turn their attention to December and the chance to compete for a place in Hockey5s history.
Source: mozzartsport.co.ke
