By Victor Kanayo
A Nigerian boxer, Cynthia Ogunsemilore Temitayo, has now qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
This was after she stopped Zambian Nkandu Felistars in round 2 of the women’s 60kg to progress to final stage.
She will square up against Algeria’s Khelif Hadjila to determine the winner of her weight category.
However, her compatriot, Patricia Mbata lost by split decision (1-4) against Moroccan Mardi Khadija in the Women’s 75kg semi-final stage.
Oyesiji Adeola Omowunmi’s chase for the Paris 2024 Olympics slot also came to an end at the semi-final stage after a unanimous decision (0-5) defeat against Algerian 2020 Olympian Boualam Roumaysa in the Women’s 50kg semi-final stage.
It was also bad news for Nigeria during another session of the Olympic Boxing Qualifier in Dakar as Nigeria’s Ojo Nene Joy lost her Olympic slot to a Congolese Sakobi Matshu Marcelat via a split decision (1-4) at semi-final stage of women’s 57kg.
Rising Hope
In other final, Three Nigerian boxers will face their opponents in the final of the ongoing African Olympic qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal.
If victorious, they will secure Olympic places.
In the male category, Omole Dolapo who recorded a unanimous decision (5-0) win over Cameroonian Sangue Alain Christian in the semi-final will meet Leta Fikremariyam Yadesa from Ethiopia in the Men’s 57kg while Olaore Olaoitan Adams will meet Houmri Mohamed from Algeria in the Men’s 92kg.
Table Tennis Slump
Meanwhile, Egypt swept up the tickets at stake for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after beating Nigeria in the final of the team event at the 2023 ITTF African Championships taking place in Tunis, Tunisia.
The Egyptian ladies were the first to pick their tickets as they handed out a 3-0 defeat to Nigeria in the final.
The one-sided encounter once again witnessed the dominance of Egypt on the continent as the North Africans qualified for their third consecutive Olympic Games at the expense of Nigeria.
The men’s final was well contested by Egypt and Nigeria but the Egyptians came out victorious with a 3-1 win.
