Lillian du Plessis, Bernadette Coston and Tarryn Glasby scored South Africa's goals in a 3-0 win over Zimbabwe.

Hosts Ghana, runners-up when the tournament was last played in 2019, needed a last-minute goal to salvage a draw with Nigeria.

Martha Sarfo saved Ghanaian blushes, levelling in the 60th minute.

Elizabeth Opoku had opened the scoring for Ghana, before QueenEsther Njoku and Benedicta Johnson put Nigeria ahead.

Namibia beat Uganda 3-0 in the opening day's other women's match, via Anthea Coetzee, Sascha Brinkmann and Taramarie Myburgh goals.

A fourth women's match was postponed because Kenya's teams have still not traveled to Ghana for the tournament.

The Kenyan women were supposed to play Ghana today, but that match has been moved to Wednesday (January 19).

Men's action also got underway at the Theodosia Okoh Hockey Stadium, with South Africa once more beginning their title defence in dominant style.

South Africa put Namibia to the sword, winning 13-0.

Egypt defeated Nigeria 4-2, coming back from a goal down.

Uganda also come back from behind in their 1-1 draw with the host nation.

Timothy Ntumba scored the equaliser, cancelling out a Francis Tettey strike.