Illse Davids found the net for South Africa as the women's round robin remains tight ©Getty Images

Hosts South Africa and Ghana maintained their 100 per cent records in the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Women’s African Championships in Johannesburg as the race for the sole Rio 2016 spot available heats up.

The winners of a seven-team round robin will be crowned as continental champions, sealing their place in Brazil next summer in the process, and with three countries in all remaining unbeaten it looks set to be a thrilling climax to the tournament.

Ghana top the pile after making it four wins from four today thanks to a 12-0 thrashing of winless Tanzania.

Elizabeth Opoku and Martha Safoa both scored hat-tricks in the rout, with Serwaa Boakye and Nafisatu Umaru bagging braces.

Theresa Mills and Lydia Afriyie also registered to leave Ghana at the summit but the South Africans are hot on their heels after extending their own perfect start, albeit having played a game fewer.

South Africa's men saw off the previously undefeated Ghana
South Africa's men saw off the previously undefeated Ghana ©SA Hockey/Twitter

They saw off Moscow 1980 Olympic champions Zimbabwe 6-0 with Lilian du Plessis scoring twice.

Jade Mayne, Nicole Walraven, Candice Manuel and Illse Davids also netted in the victory.

Kenya, who did not play today, also have three wins from three and things will start to get interesting when the tournament resumes on Thursday, with South Africa set to meet the Kenyans in the first clash involving two of the three contenders for Rio 2016.

In the men's competition, South Africa assured a semi-final spot on home soil after beating Ghana 4-0 to claim a third win from three in Pool A. 

Both sides went into the match unbeaten but it was the hosts who prevailed, with the top two advancing to the last four.

Ghana remain second, but they now have the same record as Zimbabwe who kept their qualification hopes alive by hammering whipping boys Botswana 19-0.

In Pool B, Nigeria moved into second spot and kept the pressure on leaders Egypt with a 3-0 win over Tanzania.

The winner of the men's final will also proceed to Rio 2016 next summer, taking the last spot available at the Olympics.


Related stories
October 2015: Ghana cruise past Botswana to remain unbeaten at African Hockey Championships
October 2015:  Egypt crush Tanzania in African Hockey Championships opener
October 2015: Hosts run riot at African Hockey Championships with two crushing wins
October 2015: Hat-trick for Viviers as Zimbabwe begin Women's African Hockey Championships in style