FIH Junior World Ranking: 10

How they qualified: 1st Place – Junior Africa Cup 2023

Junior World Cup history: 2021 – 9th, 2016 – 10th, 2013 – 12th, 2009 – 15th, 2005 – 13th, 2001 – 11th

Following a best ever Junior World Cup placement of ninth at the 2021 competition, South Africa’s rising stars will be aiming for even bigger things in 2023. In March, the team claimed the Junior Africa Cup title for the fifth time in the last six editions, with penalty corner expert James Flint scoring five times and Reece Govender being named goalkeeper of the tournament at the event in Ismailia, Egypt. South Africa recently competed on Malaysian soil in the Sultan of Johor Cup, finishing bottom of the standings in the eight team competition. However, the selection of extraordinary attacker Mustaphaa Cassiem, a bonefide star of the senior side, has the potential to improve their fortunes. It will be fascinating to see how they perform in Kuala Lumpur.