Hampstead & Westminster’s Matt Guise-Brown has been picked for South Africa’s bid to qualify for the 2023 men’s World Cup.
The African Hockey Cup of Nations takes place in Accra in Ghana from January 17-23. The team that finishes top of the tournament will qualify for the World Cup in India in January 2023.
For South Africa it represents an opportunity to build on the momentum established at the Tokyo Olympic Games, where a victory over Germany thrust South Africa into world top 10 for the first time ever.
They currently sit in 12th, but the continental showpiece will give them an opportunity to return to the top 10.
With the FIH Indoor Hockey World Cup and the African Cup of Nations taking in close proximity, the challenge that has arisen as a result of the various travel restrictions has led to an updated South African team to take the African Cup of Champions.
Sihle Ngubane and Connor Beauchamp will have the opportunity to earn their first caps for the national team, while Richard Pautz and Ignatius Malgraff are recalled to the squad too.
The South Africans are seven-time champions, and while they will be favourites to take the title, there will be a tough challenge from Egypt and hosts Ghana.
The squad including reserves will start a camp at North West University before departing for Ghana.
