South Africa claimed both the women's and men's titles at the Africa Cup of Nations hockey in Accra ©Getty Images

South Africa claimed both the men’s and women’s titles at the Africa Cup of Nations hockey in Accra, Ghana.

Following their victories at the Theodosia Okoh Stadium South Africa’s men qualify for the Men’s 2023 World Cup, due to be held in India, while the women qualify for the Women’s 2022 World Cup, set to be co-hosted by Spain and The Netherlands.

In the women’s competition, South Africa faced Ghana for the fifth consecutive final of this tournament and maintained their unblemished winning record.

South Africa conceded a goal for the first time in the tournament when the hosts took a surprise sixth minute lead courtesy of a penalty stroke from Elizabeth Opoku.

The holders were level ten minutes later as a field goal from Charne Maddocks made the score 1-1.

South Africa struck the front in the 23rd minute when Kristen Paton scored from a penalty corner to make it 2-1.

A penalty stroke from Lilian Du Plessis with five minutes remaining made it 3-1 and secured a seventh consecutive women’s title for South Africa.

Classification matches also took place today to determine the rest of the standings in the women’s tournament.

In the third place match, Kenya defeated Zimbabwe 3-1 on penalties after the contest had ended 0-0 at the end of regulation time, with Eleanor Chebet scoring the winning penalty for Kenya.

In the battle for fifth place, Nigeria defeated Namibia 1-0 thanks to a field goal from Alfa John, while in the seventh place match a brace from Catherine Kalomo helped Zambia beat Uganda 2-1.

In the men’s competition, South Africa faced Egypt in a repeat of the five previous finals of the tournament.

Holders South Africa took a 12th minute lead through a Matthew Guise-Brown penalty corner.

Egypt levelled proceedings 10 minutes later when a field goal from Ziad Adel made it 1-1.

South Africa failed to take their chances during the rest of normal time, and after being unable to retake the lead, were forced into a penalty shoot-out.

During the shoot-out the holders quality and experience told as they won it 3-1, with Bradley Sherwood netting the winning penalty after three Egyptian misses.

The victory means South Africa have now won the previous eight men’s tournaments.  

In an entertaining third place match earlier in the day, Nigeria beat Kenya 4-2.