The 2024 Junior Africa Cup officially came to an end in Windhoek, Namibia, after six days of high-level youth hockey action.

Held at the Davin Trustco Hockey Stadium, the tournament brought together the continent's most promising under-21 men's and women's teams, all competing for a spot at the FIH Junior Hockey World Cup.

In total, six teams have booked their tickets to the World Cup - three men's and three women's sides - following intense group-stage battles and decisive playoff matches.

In the men's category, South Africa, Namibia, and Egypt emerged as the top three.

Meanwhile, in the women's category, South Africa, Namibia, and Zimbabwe secured qualification.

South Africa once again demonstrated why they are a powerhouse in African hockey.

Both their men's and women's teams went unbeaten throughout the tournament and sealed their campaigns with convincing 5-0 victories over hosts Namibia in the gold medal matches.

Their dominance reaffirmed their reputation and solidified their status as serious contenders on the world stage.

For Namibia, the tournament was a proud moment.

As hosts, both teams displayed strong performances, finishing second and earning silver medals.

Their qualification marks another step forward in the country's hockey development, reflecting the progress made in recent years.

The Egyptian men's team clinched third place in dramatic fashion.

After drawing 2-2 with Kenya in the 3rd/4th place playoff, Egypt held their nerve in the penalty shootout, winning 4-2 to secure Africa's final World Cup berth in the men's division.

In the women's category, Zimbabwe capped off their campaign with a commanding 6-1 win over Uganda to claim third place and qualification.

It marks an important milestone for Zimbabwean women's hockey, proving their readiness to compete on the global stage.

This year's Junior Africa Cup also saw meaningful off-field contributions.

In a symbolic gesture of development, African Hockey Federation (AfHF) President Seif Ahmed handed over goalkeeper kits and sticks to all team managers, underlining the Federation's commitment to growth and support across the continent.

The qualified teams will now begin preparations for the FIH Junior Hockey World Cup, set for later this year - with the men's edition in India and the women's in Chile.