African Games: 10 Algerian boxers, 9 Nigerians, 8 Congolese, others qualify for semi- finals

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Algeria landed 10 boxers in the semi-finals to set up what promises to be a bruising battle with Nigeria, DR Congo, Ghana, Zambia and defending champions Morocco in the African Games boxing tournament at the Bukom Arena in Accra, Ghana.

Punches will explode and tears will flow for some as the boxing event enters its penultimate stage today (March 20) with mouth-watering semi-final bouts.

With nine boxers in the semis and one in the finals, the Nigerians are flexing their muscles ready for the showdown. DR Congo are also within range of the overall crown having eight boxers in the semis and three in the finals.

Hosts Ghana and Zambia have seven each in the semis with Morocco entering six and one in the finals. Ghana and Morocco are relying on divine intervention with the hosts very desperate to capture the overall African Games crown for the first time.

Tunisia have five in the semi-finals and one in the final, Egypt four, Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda three each.

Kenya, South Africa, Senegal, Gabon and Ethiopia (one in the final) have two each with Mauritius, Botswana, Cameroon, Togo, Equatorial Guinea and Liberia entering one each.

Morocco’s world heavyweight champion and undisputed African heavyweight queen Khadija Mardi is one of the lucky eight female boxers who received byes to the finals and meets DR Congo’s Tekasala Malewu.

Others in finals: light-welterweight Ichrak Chaib (Algeria) vs Mbamba Merveille (DRC), welterweight Isabel Mulungu (Mozambique) vs Betel Wolde Dedi (Ethiopia), light-heavyweight Jacinta Umunnakwe (Nigeria) vs Marie Mwika (DR Congo).

Among the highlights in today’s semi-finals includes the light-heavyweight duel featuring Tanzania’s Yusuf Changalawe and DR Congo’s silver medallist in the 2019 African Games in Rabat Pita Kabeji. Both won their quarters-finals through first round stoppages with Changalawe beating Equatorial Guinea’s Maxinillano Bibano and Kabeji seeing off Guinea’s Mohamed Conde.

Zambia’s colourful flyweight, Patrick Chinyemba meets popular homeboy Theo Allotey in a rematch having defeated the Ghanaian 3-2 in last year’s World Championships in Uzbekistan.

“I’m going to win again and get the gold but he’s a good boxer I’m not underrating him,” said Chinyemba who’s the Commonwealth Games flyweight bronze medallist.

Cameroon’s lone survivor in the semis, Junior Fotouo has a mountain to climb against Algeria’s Olympian Mohamed Houmri in another tough light-heavyweight bout.

Women’s key semi-final is the fifth duel between rivals Morocco’s world championships bronze medallist, 2019 Zone 3 title holder and Africa champion Yasmin Mouttaki taking on two-time Africa champion Algeria’s Roumaysa Boualam. The two have fought four times, each one of them with two victories and two loses. So, who will be on top today?

Two other crackers are in the middleweight and lightweight categories. Nigeria’s Patricia Mbata has a score to settle with two-time Africa middleweight champion Rady Gramane after what some felt was a suspicious defeat against the Mozambican in last year’s Africa Championships final in Yaounde. Who will blink last?

The lightweight rematch between Africa champion Hadjila Khelif of Algeria and Nigeria’s swift southpaw Cynthia Ogunsemilore has all the trappings of a thriller. The Nigerian beat Khelif hands down to book a ticket to Paris in last year’s Olympic qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal.

Another rematch will pit Morocco’s stylish Africa bantamweight champion Widad Bertal against Egypt’s Ayyad Yomna who lost to the Moroccan in last year’s Paris Olympics qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal.

DR Congo’s Brigitte Mbabi once again meets two-time Africa light-middleweight champion, Mozambican Alcinda Panguana Dos Santos who has beaten Mbabi four times but the DR Congo boxer says enough is enough. Today Panguana will fall.

“Honestly Panguana is a big headache to me, everytime I’m in the gym I’m thinking on how to beat her. I know we will meet again in Accra,” Mbabi said early this month in an interview.

The DR Congo boxer has yet to win a gold medal. She has won three silver and three bronze medals for the national team. It will be interesting to see how she will handle Panguana today.