(Sports Correspondent; Imran Sohail)
South Africa, New Zealand and France Reach FIH Nations Cup Semi-Finals
The semi-final spots have been confirmed at the FIH Hockey Men’s Nations Cup 2025-26 after a dramatic day of action at Hartleyvale Stadium in Cape Town.
New Zealand Men’s Hockey Team and hosts South Africa Men’s Hockey Team secured their places in contrasting fashion, while France Men’s Hockey Team finished top of their group with a dominant win.
New Zealand Dominate Malaysia
New Zealand booked their semi-final spot with a commanding 5-1 victory over Malaysia.
The Black Sticks controlled possession and created far more scoring chances, taking a 3-0 lead by halftime before sealing the result in the second half.
Malaysia managed a late consolation goal, but the result confirmed their exit from semi-final contention.
Scotland Beat Korea to Stay Alive
Scotland Men’s Hockey Team kept their tournament hopes alive with a 4-2 win over Korea.
Despite a strong response from Korea, Scotland’s sharp finishing and penalty corner efficiency proved decisive as they secured a place in the classification matches.
France Continue Perfect Run
France maintained their unbeaten record with a 4-1 win over the United States.
Victor Charlet’s hat-trick from penalty corners powered France to the top of Pool B, as they once again showcased their strength in set-piece situations.
South Africa Hold Ireland to Reach Semi-Finals
Hosts South Africa secured their semi-final place after a tense 3-3 draw with Ireland.
South Africa needed only a draw to qualify and survived late pressure despite finishing the match with reduced numbers after disciplinary issues.
Ireland pushed hard until the final whistle but fell just short on goal difference.
What’s Next
The semi-final matchups will now depend on the final group results, with New Zealand, South Africa, France, and one remaining contender advancing to the knockout stage of the competition.
