South Africa’s FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup campaign ended in dramatic fashion as Pakistan claimed an enthralling 4–3 shootout victory after the sides had played out a pulsating 4–4 draw in the playoff for 11th place.
Playing on Nic Spooner’s birthday, South Africa made the perfect start and opened the scoring in the eighth minute. Trevor de Lora found the breakthrough with a well-taken strike after Mustapha Cassiem’s penalty corner was charged down. The strike had incredible power on it and was a deserved lead for the South Africans.
South Africa doubled the advantage three minutes into the second quarter. Dayaan Cassiem picked up the ball in the circle and with limited space showed an ingenious finish to lift it past the shoulder of the keeper into the back of the net.
Pakistan responded strongly, however, striking twice through Afraz and Mohammad Ammad to erase South Africa’s advantage and send the teams into half-time level at 2–2.
The momentum remained with Pakistan after the restart as Rana Waheed Ashraf scored in the 32nd minute to complete the turnaround and give his side a 3–2 lead.
South Africa refused to allow the contest to slip away. Mustapha Cassiem restored parity in the 40th minute with his 7th goal of the tournament, a powerful drag flick through the keeper, ensuring the teams entered the final quarter locked together at 3–3.
With five minutes remaining, Cassiem delivered again. South Africa’s leading World Cup goalscorer converted a penalty stroke to complete his brace and put his side within touching distance of an 11th-place finish.
Pakistan summoned one final response and equalised through Muhammad Hammaduddin in the 60th minute, forcing the contest into a shootout.
Dayaan Cassiem and Calvin Davis converted South Africa’s opening two attempts, but misses from Hans Neethling and Jamie Seale allowed Pakistan to gain the advantage.
South Africa remained alive when Mustapha Cassiem converted after Rana Waheed Ashraf had missed the opportunity to seal the result. Ammad Butt, however, held his nerve with Pakistan’s final attempt to secure a 4–3 shootout victory.
It was a heartbreaking conclusion to an entertaining encounter and to a campaign in which South Africa once again showed their ability to compete with some of the world’s best. They end the 2026 FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup in 12th place.
