Team Nigeria boxers have continued their good run at the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualifier in Dakar, Senegal as six of them have secured qualification to the semu-finals as they aim to secure spots at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Out of the nine boxers that travelled to Dakar to represent Nigeria at the qualifiers, only Fatai Moshood (71kg) failed to advance to the quarter-final, after losing to DR Congo’s Steve Kulenguluka in the round of 32 September 10.
While eight of the nine boxers made it to the quarter-final, only six of them were able to advance to the semi-final.
In the women’s category, Nigeria’s Cynthia Ogunsemilore Temitope beat Mwangi Teresiah Wanjiru of Kenya in round one at the Quarter-final in Women’s 60kg while UK-base Patricia Mbat Adanma Epelle of Team Nigeria defeated Mwika Marie-Joelle of Democratic Republic of Congo by a unanimous decision 5-0 at Quater-final stage of Women’s 75kg to clinch a Semi-final ticket.
Ojo Nene Joy thrashed Selmouni Chahira of Algeria in round 3 after 3 knock-downs to advance to the semi-final of the women’s 57kg while Oyesiji Adeola Omowunmi also defeated Tembo Margret of Zambia on Points in Women’s 50kg to secure qualification to the semi-final stage.
In the male category: UK-based Nigerian heavyweight, Olaore Olaitan Adams beat host nation’s Kebe Karamba of Senegal in Men’s 92kg by a unanimous decision 5-0 while Dolapo Joshua knocked out Namibia’s Ndevelo Tryagain Morning in round one of Men’s 57kg to qualify for the Semi-final stage of the ongoing Boxing Africa Olympic Qualifier in Dakar, Senegal.
Four female boxers and two male boxers now remain in the competition.
The boxers still representing Nigeria in the men’s category are Omole Dolapo Joshua (57kg) and Olaore Adams (92kg).
While Oyesiji Adeola Omowunmi (50kg), Ojo Nene Joy (57kg), Cynthia Ogunsemilore (60kg) and Patricia Mbata (75kg) are in the female categories.
Team Nigeria’s boxers are accompanied by two coaches, Anthony Konyegwachie who competed at the 1988 Summer Olympics and Adura Olalehin.
These boxers are one step closer to achieving their Olympic dreams and put Nigeria, which was once one of the biggest Olympic boxing countries back on the map.
The country has not won any medal in the event since Duncan Dokiwari’s bronze medal in the super heavyweight class in 1996. In fact, Nigerian boxers have found it difficult to qualify for the event, with the country presenting only a boxer at the Rio 2016 Games and failing to qualify for the event at the Japan 2020 edition.
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