RIF: 04

AIBA Press Release
First semifinalists found at African Olympic qualifier  

1st AIBA African Olympic Qualifying Tournament page  

January 25 2008 – The four contenders for three Olympic spots in each of the 48kg, 54kg and 60kg divisions have been determined following quarterfinal action on the third day of the 1st AIBA African Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Algiers , Algeria on Friday.  

Redouane Boubraouat (ALG), Suleimane Bilali (KEN), Jafet Uutoni (NAM) and Manyo Plange (GHA) booked their spot in Sunday’s 48kg semifinals with respective quarterfinal victories over Natnael Getenet (ETH), Simanga Shiba (SWZ), Redouane Bouchtouk (MAR) and Thomas Essomba (CMR) while the 54kg division provided the closest contest of the day when Botswana’s Stephen Ikgopoleng pipped Alla Mohamed Abdel Rehim Rezk 13:12 to set up a semifinal against Abdelhalim Ourradi (ALG). The other 54kg semifinal sees Mesbahi Hicham (MAR) take on Joseph Mhlongo (RSA) after they beat Issah Samir (GHA) 22:6 and Tewodros Tilahun (ETH) 22:1 respectively.  

Meanwhile, the 60kg division saw Saifeddine Nejmaoui (TUN) set up a semifinal against Frederik Lawson (GHA) with a 18:5 victory over Gaolatlhe Mpotsang (BOT) while Hamza Kramou’s (ALG) 17:10 win over Julius Indongo (NAM) was good enough to line up a showdown with Tahar Tamsamani (MAR). 

The gold, silver and bronze medallists in each of the 48kg, 51kg, 54kg, 57kg, 60kg, 64kg, 69kg and 75kg divisions will book tickets to Beijing . The 81kg and 91kg divisions offer two spots to the finalists while the 91+kg class will see only the gold medallist confirm his seat on the plane.  

In the team rankings, Algeria and Tunisia remain unbeaten with eight and five victories respectively.

Saturday sees the last round of preliminary bouts before the first 2008 Olympic spots go on the line in Sunday’s semifinals.