The Boxing Road to Paris Africa qualification tournament continued in Dakar, Senegal, with the quarterfinals of all 13 Olympic weight classes held today. Athletes from 42 countries on the continent are participating in the tournament, which is being held at the Dakar Arena from September 9th through the 15th, with the goal of securing 18 quota places, the tickets to the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
In women’s events, 11 quota places will be awarded (two in each women’s event, except for the women’s 75 kg event where only 1 quota is available). In the men’s events, only 1 quota place will be awarded in each event, meaning that only the winners will earn a pass to Paris.
Women’s 54kg Category
In the women’s 54kg category, Morocco’s Bertal Widad defeated Nigeria’s Adeshina Zainab Motunrayo (NGR) by 5 points to 0, advancing to the semifinals where she will face Haghighat-Joo Sara (SLE), who secured her spot by defeating Nyembo Muamba Gisele (COD) via unanimous decision. In the same category, the tournament will see Egypt’s Ayyad Yomna Ahmed Rezk Abdalla facing Algeria’s Abdelkader Hadjala Fatma Zohra, after they defeated Ethiopia’s Bayew Agerie Emagnu and Tunisia’s Jlassi Chadha, respectively.
Women’s 60kg Category
In the women’s 60kg category, Mariam Sidibe (CIV) will face Khelif Hadjila (ALG) in the first semifinal, tomorrow. They both won their quarterfinal matches by outscoring Mendes Varela Carina (CPV) and Mulungo Isabel Sandra of Mozambique, respectively. The winner will meet the boxer emerging from the second semifinal, where Nkandu Felistars (ZAM) will go up against Ogunsemilore Cynthia Temitayo (NGR).
Women’s 75kg Category
In the women’s 75kg weight class, Morocco’s boxing superstar Khadija Mardi, the reigning African Champion who has won three continental titles in her career, defeated Mozambique’s Gramane Rady Adosinda 5 points to 0 after a tense match. Mardi will now meet Nigeria’s Mbata Patricia Adanma Epelle, who gained a 5-0 victory over Mwika Marie-Joelle (COD). In the same weight class, Tunisia’s Ben Mabrouk Molka defeated Senegal’s Ndiaye Ndèye Seynabou Dieng by unanimous decision and is now set to face Andiego Elizabeth Adhiambo (KEN) in the second semifinal.
Men’s 57kg Category
In the men’s 57kg category, Alain Christian Sangue of Cameroon secured a 3-2 split decision against Idriss Kitangila Kabwe (COD) in the quarterfinals. He will now face Nigeria’s Omole Dolapo Joshua, who defeated Namibia’s Morning Ndevelo Tryagain in round 1 during his quarterfinal match. The winner of that match will move up to the final, against the boxer who will prevail in the semifinal between Leta Fikremariyam Yadesa (ETH) and Maouche Hichem (ALG).
Men’s 71kg Category
Mozambique’s Tiago Osorio Muxanga, one of the “athletes to watch” in this tournament, lost his chances today in the men’s 71kg category. He was defeated by Steve Kulenguluka Mbiya (COD) with a score of 3 to 2 points. Kulenguluka Mbiya is now up for a semifinal match against Lesotho’s Michael Pakela Arena, who outscored Uganda’s Isaac Zebra Ssenyange 4 to 1 points today. Bruno Miguel Fernandes De Barros and Elawady Omar Elsayed Ragab Elawad (EGY) will compete in the second semifinal of the weight class tomorrow afternoon.
Men’s 92kg Category
Morocco continues to perform well in this Boxing Road to Paris Africa qualification tournament. In the men’s 92kg category, Moroccan boxer Maanni Ayoub advanced to the semifinals by defeating South Africa’s Nhlapo Bonginkosi with a commanding 5-0 score. He will now face Nigeria’s Adam Olaore Olaitan. In the other semifinal, Albino Julio Gabriel (MOZ) will go up against Algeria’s Mohamed Houmri, after they defeated home hero Karamba Kebe (SEN) and Jonathan Tetteh (GHA), respectively.
Men’s +92kg Category
Algeria’s Mourad Kadi finished in the spotlights in the men’s +92kg category, as he beat Cameroon’s Mvogo Amougou Zacharie Serge in less than 3 minutes. The Algerian boxer dominated the first part of round 1, forcing the referee to stop the contest at 1:33, and thus advancing to the semifinals. There, he will meet a formidable opponent, Keddy Evans Agnes of the Seychelles, who also advanced to the semifinals through a RSC as he beat Dos Santos Morais Davilson (CPV) at 2:21 in round 1. Morocco’s Mohamed Firisse beat Kenya’s Ramogi Fredrick Otieno (also by RSC in round 1) and will now meet the host country’s medal hope Balde Diarga in the second semifinal of the weight class.
Women’s 50kg Category
Nigeria’s Oyesiji Adeola Omowunmi clinched a 4-1 victory against Margret Tembo of Zambia in the Women’s 50kg category quarterfinal, advancing to the semifinal match where she will meet Algeria’s Boualam Roumaysa, who beat Aly Habiba Ibrahim Abdo Elshe (EGY) by unanimous decision. Diyoka Benedict (COD) won 4-1 against Ngoune Reine Laure (CMR) and will meet Morocco’s Yasmine Mouttaki in the second semifinal.
Women’s 57kg Category
Tunisia’s Hlimi Ep Moulahti Khouloud (TUN) won as the referee stopped her women’s 57kg match against South Africa’s Mnguni Phiwokuhle Sbusisiwe amid round 2. She’s now bound to a bout against local hero Diallo Mariatou, representing Senegal, who won by a split decision against Benilde Regina Fernando Macaringue (MOZ). In the second semifinal of the class, Sakobi Matshu Marcelat (COD) will face Nigeria’s Ojo Nene Joy, after they beat Kenosi Keamogetse Sadie (BOT) and Selmouni Chahira (ALG).
Women’s 66kg Category
In the women’s 66kg event, Mireille Noelle Bindzi Ongbibou (CMR) won by unanimous decision against Shodipe Olawunmi Damilola from Nigeria, advancing to the semifinal match where she will meet Imane Khelif (ALG). Mbabi Tsheusi Brigitte (COD) beat Kenya’s Asiko Friza Anyango (KEN) by unanimous decision to book a spot in the second semifinal of the category against Lucas Dos Santos Alcinda (MOZ).
Men’s 51kg Category
Morocco’s Said Mortaji claimed a 4-1 victory against Tanzania’s Mohamed Abdallah Abdallah in the men’s 51kg category, advancing to the semifinal phase of the tournament where he will meet Zambia’s Patrick Chinyemba. At the same time, Ghana’s Allotey Theophilus Kpakpo secured an unanimous decision win against Uganda’s Mawanda Fathia Shafik to meet Zidi Ala Eddine from Tunisia in the semifinal.
Men’s 63.5kg Category
Uganda’s Joshua Tukamuhebwa beat Tunisia’s Dridi Mehdi by unanimous decision in the first men’s 63.5kg weight class quarterfinal of the day, moving up in the brackets to a semifinal match against Mauritius’ Colin Louis Richarno, who achieved another victory as he defeated Morocco’s Abdelhaq Nadir via a split decision. In the other semifinal of the category, Algeria’s Jugurtha Ait Bekka will go up against South Africa’s Masamba John Paul.
Men’s 80kg Category
Tanzania’s Yusuf Lucasi Changalawe dashed the Olympic dream of the home team, beating Senegal’s Mouhamed Konate Seydina on points, by split decision, in the men’s 80kg category. On his way to a Paris 2024 qualification, Changalawe will have to meet Algeria’s Nemouchi Younes in the semifinal, as the Algerian athlete beat Tessa Kombila Yaya Roger (GAB) 5 to 0. Abdelgawwad Abdelrahman Salah Orabi (EGY) will meet Ipinge Gebhard Tonateni (NAM) in the second semifinal of the weight class.
Action is due to resume tomorrow, September 14th, when the semifinals will take place in two sessions at 12.00 and 17.00 (Dakar time). The finalists emerging from the women’s 50kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, and 66kg semifinals will be awarded a quota place.
Stay tuned on boxing.athlete365.org for results, photos, and news, and watch the tournament live on the Olympic Channel at https://olympics.com/en/sports/boxing/
