The Egyptian Men’s Hockey Team concluded their campaign with a valiant effort against India, securing a commendable sixth-place finish. However, the journey was marked by a challenging 6-4 loss in the 5th-6th classification round.
India asserted their dominance from the onset, with early goals from Mohammed Raheel and Pawan Rajbhar establishing a 2-0 lead. The momentum continued as Maninder Singh, Mandeep Mor, and Uttam Singh added goals in quick succession, extending India’s advantage to 5-0.
Facing a formidable scoreline, Egypt mounted a spirited comeback, led by Captain Amr Sayed, who scored two goals (14’, 19’) to keep his team in contention. Despite their efforts, India maintained a 5-2 lead at halftime.
The second half witnessed Egypt launching aggressive attacks in a bid to overturn the deficit. However, Maninder Singh’s goal (23’) for India kept them ahead. Egypt showcased resilience with quick goals from Mostafa Ragab (23’) and Karim Atef (24’), narrowing the gap to 6-4.
India, however, shifted their focus to solid defense and ball possession, securing a 6-4 victory and sealing Egypt’s sixth-place finish in the tournament.
Meanwhile, on another pitch, Kenya displayed their prowess, finishing in the 7th position after a thrilling encounter against Trinidad & Tobago. In a scoring duel, Marcano Teague opened the scoring for Trinidad & Tobago in the second minute. Kenya responded swiftly, with Danstone Wabwire leveling the scores in the 5th minute.
Bethuel Masambu took center stage for Kenya, completing a sensational hattrick with goals in the 19th and 27th minutes. Despite Toussaint Akim’s hattrick efforts for Trinidad & Tobago, they struggled to match the scoring prowess of the Kenyan side.
Moses Ademba, with a brace, and Ivan Ludiali, scoring a crucial goal, played pivotal roles in securing Kenya’s thrilling 7-5 victory, wrapping up their journey in the 7th position.
In the African rankings, Egypt and Kenya emerged as the top two teams, solidifying their positions as powerhouses in continental hockey. The tournament showcased the resilience and skill of both teams, setting the stage for future competitions and further elevating the status of African hockey on the world stage.
