FIH Junior World Ranking: 8

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

Junior World Cup history: 2022 – 7th, 2016 – 14th, 2013 – 8th, 2009 – 11th, 2005 – 8th, 2001 – 6th, 1997 – 6th

Following their disappointing 14th place finish at the 2016 FIH Women’s Junior World Cup in Santiago, South Africa will be aiming for a much better outcome on their return to Chilean soil. They certainly have good reason to feel optimistic. By finishing seventh at last year’s Junior World Cup on home soil in Potchefstroom, South Africa achieved their highest placement in more than 20 years. The team produced a string of dominant performances at this year’s Junior Africa Cup in Ismailia, Egypt, claiming the gold medal by winning all four of their matches, scoring 20 goals without once conceding. Twelve players from that squad have been named for Santiago 2023, including team co-captain Caylin Maree, who also competed in the Potchefstroom 2022 event. South Africa’s rising stars are coached by Lenise Marais, who as a player represented her country 232 times and competed at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympics.