Knockouts and surprises in the quarter-finals of the All Africa Games

The next part of the quarter-finals were held in the boxing tournament of the All Africa Games in Accra, Ghana on Day5.

Several of the Africans who competed in the 1^st World Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event in Busto Arsizio, are also there on the start of the All Africa Games in Ghana’s capital.

The All Africa Games was planning to host on August 2023 but due to economic reasons, the multisport event moved to March 2024.

Josefien Betist switched from the Netherlands to Sierra Leone and she was a medal favourite at the women’s lightweight (60kg). The Dutch girl was excellent in her quarter-final but Tunisia’s Azza Nahti had a great finish and the North African turned back their contest.

Algeria’s Hadjila Khelif is an outstanding boxer at the lightweight (60kg) but she needed all of her routine to beat DR Congo’s Olympian Therese Naomie Yumba. Nigeria’s Cynthia Ogunsemilore was too strong for Uganda’s Erina Namutebi in the same weight class and she is also a semi-finalist in Accra.

The knockouts are very rare in women’s boxing but DR Congo’s Brigitte Mbabi landed her powerful shots to make in happen in the fifth competition day. The 22-year-old middleweight (75kg) boxer knocked out Algeria’s Benan Djouher in their quarter-final on Day5.

Ghana’s Olympic Games bronze medallist Samuel Takyi moved up to the light welterweight (63.5kg) and he had the skills to beat Tunisia’s Mehdi Dridi in an excellent bout. The 24-year-old local hero will now meet for the title bout South Africa’s John Paul Masamba who knocked out his rival from Burkina Faso, Mathias Napaongo.

Algeria’s veteran Jugurtha Ait Bekka, the winner of the African Olympic Boxing Qualifying Event, had a tough battle against Uganda’s Innocent Amoko but finally his hand was raised after the last gong.

Zambia’s new face, Emmanuel Katema caused the main surprise in this men’s light welterweight (63.5kg) following his unexpected triumph over DR Congo’s No.1, the All Africa Games silver medallist Fiston Mbaya Mulumba.