Olympic Qualifier: Mixed Feelings For Team Nigeria Boxers In Dakar

Olympic Qualifier: Mixed Feelings For Team Nigeria Boxers In Dakar

Sampson Adedeji

It was mixed feelings for the Team Nigeria boxer's campaigning in the ongoing Paris 2024 Olympic Games boxing qualifiers in Dakar, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Nine Nigerian boxers arrived in Dakar, the Senegalese capital for the qualifier and started on a good note with 8 of them reaching the quarter-final.

Six of them reached the semi-final and they took to the ring on Thursday to fight for a place in the final.

The result coming from Dakar indicated that only 2 Nigerian boxers reached the final, one picked an Olympic ticket and 3 crashed out.

They started for Nigeria on a sound note with Cynthia Ogunsemilore Temitayo qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics after beating Zambian Nkandu Felistars in round 2 of women's 60kg to progress to final stage and booked a place for herself at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Omole Dolapo Joshua qualified for the final of Men's 57kg after a unanimous decision (5-0 ) win over Cameroonian Sangue Alain Christian and Olaore Olaitan Adams dominated every round to secure a unanimous decision (5-0) win over Moroccan Maanni Ayoub after a Knockdown in round 1 at Men's 92kg to progress to final stage of the ongoing Boxing Africa Olympic Qualifier in Dakar, Senegal. 

Meanwhile, Oyesiji Adeola Omowunmi's chase for the Olympics spot ended at the semi-final stage after a unanimous decision (0-5) defeat against Algerian 2020 Olympian Boualam Roumaysa at the Women's 50kg semi-final stage.

Nigeria’s Olympic hopeful, Ojo Joy lost her Olympic spot to a Congolese Sakobi Matshu Marcelat via a split decision (1-4) at the semi-final stage of women's 57kg, while Patricia Mbata lost by split decision (1-4) against Moroccan Mardi Khadija on a Split decision (1-4) decision at Women's 75kg semi-final stage.