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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Kenya's long wait to recapture continental hockey titles continues

Hockey

By Elizabeth Mburugu | Feb 05, 2025

**Mombasa Sports Club and Smouha Club players in action during their Africa Cup for Club Championships (ACCC) match in Ismailia, Egypt.** [African Hockey Federation]

It’s not over until it's done! Perhaps that was the main inspiration for Mombasa Sports Club (MSC) hockey players when they took to the pitch on Wednesday for their last Group B match of the Africa Cup for Club Championships (ACCC) currently on in Ismailia, Egypt.

Placed third on the standings, with four points to their name and a match at hand, rookies MSC knew too well that Kenya’s hopes of a podium finish in the women’s contest were solely in their hands.

But they stood to be counted and delivered a 1-0 win against home girls Smouha Club to clear the way for compatriots United States International University of Africa (USIU-A) Spartans, who were second on the table, to seal a final slot.

They also hung onto a slim chance they had of finishing second on the table should things go south for Spartans, who needed to beat Nigeria’s Plateau Queens by a scoreline of 3-0 to top the pool on goal difference.

However, in a twist of events, Spartans crumbled to settle for a 1-1 draw and crash out of the medal contest due to an inferior goal difference.

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MSC, who were on the brink of exiting the competition at the group stage, finished second and will now play the number two team in the third-place playoff match tomorrow.

Brenda Mere scored MSC’s all-important goal in the 52nd minute. They finished second in their group with seven points thanks to their superior goal difference.

Despite not making it the final, MSC had a good outing beginning their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Plateau Queens from Nigeria. Their only loss was in the hands of compatriots Spartans who forced a 1-0 victory in their second encounter. They recovered to drub Egypt’s El Nasr Sporting Club 9-0 before subjecting Smouha to their first defeat in their last group tie.

Sikh Union secured one point from their 4-4 draw with Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to finish second with seven points behind hosts Aircraft Factory Club. They will play for bronze medal with the team that finishes second in Group A.

Western Jaguars ended their campaign with a resounding 6-1 win against Nigeria’s Niger Flickers. This was Jaguars only victory for the Kenyan champions who finished their competition with four points in Group A. Emmanuel Waswa and Willis Malesi bagged a brace while Bethuel Masambu and Charles Ashiundu scored one goal each. Niger Flickers’ consolation goal was scored by Olawale Ajibua.