2025 is slowly but steadily coming to an end, but this doesn’t mean the sports events in Africa are over. The Men’s & Women’s Hockey Africa Cup of Nations will be a monumental event for African hockey, as it will be the first time in history that the men’s and women’s tournaments are held simultaneously.
The best teams from around Africa will give everything they’ve got in an attempt to win this amazing event. Hockey has a lot of fans all over the continent, especially in places like Egypt, Kenya and South Africa. The sport is so big that it also draws attention from sports betting fans around the world.
The 2025 ACON will take place from October 11 to 18 in Ismailia, Egypt. People who want to follow the competition will see a total of 6 teams. It’s safe to say the event will have an important role for hockey in Africa because we expect to boost the sport’s popularity. With that said, let’s learn more about the event and everything we need to know.
Men’s & Women’s Hockey Africa Cup of Nations – A Historic Double Tournament
Before sharing some insight, we’d like to say that hockey has been growing steadily across the continent. Hockey has long had a solid fan base there, and many people even bet on the sport daily. Aside from South Africa, Kenya and Ghana are also making strides in women’s hockey.
As mentioned earlier, the Men’s & Women’s Hockey Africa Cup of Nations will be a historic event. Men’s ACON will feature the top teams in Africa and fans will get to see the two best squads on the continent – South Africa and Egypt. The emerging nations of Kenya and Ghana will also look to secure a spot in global competitions, so they will also step up their game.
Moving on to the women’s ACON, South Africa is once again in a league of its own compared to the rest. The team is definitely the big favorite (which we can see from the odds that bookies have in stock), but others will challenge it. Kenya and Ghana, in particular, have promising squads and want to impress people with their performance. If they achieve that, the countries will have the opportunity to participate in the Commonwealth Games and the FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup.
Since the Men’s & Women’s Hockey Africa Cup of Nations will be the first event where men and women play together and the spotlight will shine equally. This means that teams and players (especially women) will be more visible. In theory, this should drive up fan engagement, sponsorships and even media coverage.
Key Teams and Players to Watch at the 2025 ACON
We already pointed out some of the countries you should definitely focus on, but let’s go over them and also check the players that stand out.
Starting with the 2025 Men’s ACON, South Africa, Egypt and Kenya are undoubtedly the three powerhouses. All of them will be looking to secure a slot for the global tournaments, so we expect to see epic clashes between them.
South Africa is the big favorite because it has the most established squad. With players like Jethro Eustice and Gideon du Plessis, the country looks stronger than ever, and it is the go-to betting option for hockey fans. Egypt also has its star in the face of Ahmed El-Houfy, but we will have to wait and see if he has what it takes to challenge SA’s deadly squad.
If we analyze the women’s ACON, we will see a similar story. South Africa is clearly the favorite, which is not surprising, considering the country has Tarryn Glasby and Onthatile Zulu. Both of them are among the best hockey players in the world.
The team is definitely the favorite, but Kenya and Ghana are close behind. Kenya has Mercy Kibet, whereas Ghana will rely heavily on Evelyn Kumi. The two have the potential to surprise everyone, including the favorites.
People looking to bet on the tournament should be prepared for competitive odds. Considering the event’s importance, we expect bookies to provide better odds than usual and allow fans to bet on higher odds.
2025 ACON Betting Trends and Opportunities
The fact that this will be Africa’s largest hockey tournament means it will attract a lot of spectators. Since the Men’s & Women’s Hockey Africa Cup of Nations includes men’s and women’s matches, the sportsbook will probably offer a variety of betting options for both events.
We expect In-Play betting to be very popular for this event. Hockey is one of the sports that offers fast pace and high scores, so bookies will try to provide players with different markets. Things like next goal scorer and the number of goals in a given half will be common. The same is true for markets like Which Team Will Score.
Hockey is typically a sport that people use parlay bets on, so this is another thing we expect to see. There will also be markets for individual player performance, such as those related to goal scorers and assists.
The Betting Regulatory Environment in Africa and Its Impact on ACON
Africa is highly diverse in terms of sports betting, as each country has its unique characteristics. Some countries, such as South Africa, are among the leaders in betting and allow people to choose from numerous bookmakers. All of them will allow users to bet on ACON 2025 and ensure that they have sufficient bonuses and markets.
The situation in Kenya is similar to the one in SA. The Kenya Betting Control and Licensing Board oversees the sector and allows several companies to offer their services. Interestingly, many sites in Kenya are renowned for their focus on mobile betting, allowing users to find exclusive mobile deals.
Nigeria is another interesting country when it comes to sports betting. The laws in the country are not entirely clear, but this won’t stop people from betting. To be fair, we expect a reform in this department really soon.
Conclusion
The 2025 Men’s and Women’s Hockey Africa Cup of Nations promises to be a historic event. Hockey fans and online bettors will have the chance to watch the best teams in Africa. The tournament definitely looks promising, so we can’t wait to see what’s going to happen.
