Nigeria no match for Kenya’s men hockey team
The national men’s hockey team on Sunday came from behind to beat Nigeria 3-1 in their opening match of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations cum 2016 Olympics qualifiers at the Randburg Stadium in Johannesburg.
Victor Kish gave Nigeria the lead on 21 minutes slamming home the ball after Kenyan keeper Linus Kipkemboi had pulled a double save.
Maxwell Wakhungu leveled for Kenya on the half hour mark with a deflected shot that sailed past Nigerian keeper Oluyemi Siyanbola.
Kenya Police forward Samuel Wokila put Kenya ahead two minutes to the break with a reverse stick goal before his club mate Brian Saina made the points safe in the 59th minute.
OUTRIGHT FAVOURITES
The Kenyan team will face Egypt in their second math in Pool B on Monday evening as their female counterparts tackle neighbours Tanzania.
The women’s team will be seeking to make it three wins out of three having beaten Namibia and Zimbabwe with an identical score of 2-0 in their opening two matches.
A win will see Kenya move to nine points as they seek their maiden African cup title and appearance at the Rio Olympic Games next year in Brazil.
Kenya will start as outright favourites against Tanzania who lost 0-9 to Zimbabwe in their first match.
Last year Kenya hammered Tanzania 22-0 at the International Hockey Federation (FIH) World League One, while back in the 2013 Cup of Nations they were 13-1 winners.
