#WrestleHammamet

Elsayed wins but Algeria steals African GR title

By Vinay Siwach

HAMMAMET, Tunisia (May 19) -- Mohamed ELSAYED's (EGY) return to African Championships after three years could have ended in despair but the Olympic bronze medalist found a way to win, not once, but twice.

Wrestling at 67kg and chasing his sixth African gold, Elsayed managed to beat Ishak GHAIOU (ALG) in two closely contested bouts on Friday to win the gold medal.

At the conclusion of the Greco-Roman competition in the African Championships, Algeria and Egypt both earned five gold medals. However, Algeria emerged as the team champions with a total of 210 points, surpassing Egypt's 200 points. Egypt's decision not to field a wrestler in the 55kg category proved to be a significant detriment.

Undoubtedly, the highlight of the day was the 67kg final between Elsayed and Ghaiou, where the latter posed a threat to the Olympic bronze medalist on two separate occasions.

With only six wrestlers participating in the 67kg weight class, the morning session divided them into two groups of three. Elsayed and Ghaiou coincidentally found themselves in the same group and faced each other in Round 2.

Elsayed started aggressively, scoring a pushout and gaining the par terre advantage, but could not convert it into points, leading 2-0 at the break. He then received the second activity point, extending his lead to 3-0. With a minute remaining, Elsayed was called passive, but as it was the third passivity call, no points were awarded to Ghaiou. The Algerian managed to execute a successful turn, cutting the score to 3-2 after a challenge, but couldn't prevent Elsayed from winning 3-2.

In the evening final, Ghaiou took control, leading 7-2 after the first period. He reversed the situation in par terre, scoring two trap-arm guts to make it 6-2. Elsayed challenged the call but lost, giving Ghaiou an extra point.

Similar to the morning bout, Ghaiou became passive in the second period and Elsayed capitalized, scoring a takedown and a turn to make it 7-6. Ghaiou was then called passive and Elsayed scored a turn from par terre to lead 9-7. Despite Ghaiou's efforts in the final minute, Elsayed won 11-7 with a late takedown and capture the gold after a tough day in the office.

While Ghaiou failed to win the gold for Algeria, five others did.

It began with Mohamed DRIDI (ALG) securing victory over Adem LAMLOUM (TUN) in the 55kg category, winning by fall. Dridi, who had earned a silver medal in 2022, recognized that with no Egyptian wrestler competing, the gold was within his reach. He dominated his opponents, outscoring them 40-1 in five bouts, achieving four technical superiority wins and one decisive fall in the final.

At 63kg, Abdeldjebar DJEBBARI (ALG) clinched his third consecutive African title, completing the Nelson bracket with four victories.

Djebbari showcased his dominance, recording technical superiority wins in all but one of his bouts, with Ahmed BAGHDOUDA (EGY) managing to score two points against him in the Round 2 clash which Djebbari won 6-2, while Baghdouda earned the silver medal.

In another Nelson bracket, Abdelmalek MERABET (ALG) triumphed in the 72kg weight class with a narrow 3-1 victory over Yehia ABDELKADER (EGY) in Round 5.

Both Merabet and Abdelkader displayed strong form, with the latter even defeating the 2022 silver medalist, Radhwen TARHOUNI (TUN), in a 1-1 result in Round 3. However, Merabet proved unstoppable, securing a 3-1 win, scoring from par terre, to claim his first African title.

Abd OUAKALI (ALG) emerged victorious in the 82kg category, defeating Elias CHIGUER (MAR) with a 7-2 scoreline in the gold medal bout, securing Algeria's fourth gold in the Greco-Roman competition.

It was a surprising outcome, considering Chiguer had previously defeated Ouakali 11-8 in the Round 2 bout during the morning session. However, Ouakali's strong defensive skills made the difference in the final. He also overcame Mahmoud IBRAHIM (EGY) with a 3-2 win in the semifinals.

With this victory, Ouakali successfully defended his 82kg gold medal, which he had previously won in El Jadida.

 

In an exceptional performance, Bachir SID AZARA (ALG) successfully defended his 87kg gold medal, not conceding a single point in four bouts within the Nelson bracket.

Sid Azara commenced the day with an impressive 8-0 victory over Emad ABOUELATTA (EGY), followed by another dominant 8-0 win against Mohamed JABRI (TUN). He received a walkover against Roberto NSANGUA (ANG). In the final bout, Sid Azara overwhelmed Adil JORF (MAR) with an 8-0 victory, securing his fifth gold medal in the tournament's history.

Egypt matches Algeria

Apart from Elsayed, four other Egyptians stood atop the podium, including Haithem MAHMOUD (EGY), who secured the 60kg gold medal by overpowering Ibrahim BUNDUKA (SLE) with a dominant 12-0 victory in the final.

Bunduka made history as the first Greco-Roman wrestler from his country to reach the African Championships final. However, Mahmoud swiftly thwarted his aspirations for further triumphs in Hammamet, launching a relentless series of attacks and triumphing via technical superiority. This victory marked Mahmoud's third African title and his first since 2020, as he had skipped the intervening editions.

At 77kg, Mohamed KHALIL (EGY) claimed the gold medal in a Nelson bracket, triumphing over three opponents. In a pivotal Round 3 clash against Akrem BOUDJEMLINE (ALG), Khalil managed to secure a hard-fought 4-2 victory, securing his second consecutive gold medal at the African Championships after his triumph in the 72kg category in 2022.

Mohamed GABR (EGY) at 97kg and Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY) at 130kg were the other two gold medalists for Egypt.

Gabr sought redemption after his loss in the 2022 final to Adem BOUDJEMLINE (ALG), who had claimed his fifth African title in El Jadida. However, the tables turned on Friday as Gabr narrowly outscored Boudjemline with a 3-2 victory in the gold medal bout. 

Despite trailing 2-0 early in the final, Gabr displayed resilience and determination. In the first period, Gabr was called passive, and Boudjemline attempted to score a turn from par terre. However, the referee penalized Gabr for fleeing the hold, extending Boudjemline's lead to 2-0.

In the second period, Boudjemline was put in par terre, and Gabr almost failed to score any points. However, when Boudjemline cleverly attempted to go behind a sitting Gabr, the Egyptian seized the opportunity to score a takedown, taking a 3-2 lead that held until the end of the bout. This victory marked Gabr's ascent to the top of the podium after two silver medals in 2019 and 2022.

For Mohamed, this marked his eighth African title, as he effortlessly cruised through his three bouts. After two commanding 8-0 wins, he sealed the deal with a 4-0 victory over Amine GUENNICHI (TUN) in the decisive Round 3 bout.

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RESULTS

Greco-Roman

55kg
GOLD: Mohamed DRIDI (ALG) df. Adem LAMLOUM (TUN), via fall

BRONZE: Alexandro HAININGA (NAM) df. Given SIKHOSANA (RSA), 10-6 

60kg
GOLD: Haithem MAHMOUD (EGY) df. Ibrahim BUNDUKA (SLE), 12-0

BRONZE: Romio GOLIATH (NAM) df. Mohamed HKIRI (TUN), 8-3
BRONZE: Ismail ETTALIBI (MAR) df. Sefiane GUEZZANIA (ALG), 8-2

63kg
GOLD: Abdeldjebar DJEBBARI (ALG)
SILVER: Ahmed BAGHDOUDA (EGY) 
BRONZE: Oussama NASR (TUN)

67kg
GOLD: Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY) df. Ishak GHAIOU (ALG), 11-7 

BRONZE: Mohamed BEN ALI (TUN) df. Bilal EL BAHJA (MAR), via inj. def.

72kg
GOLD: Abdelmalek MERABET (ALG)
SILVER: Yehia ABDELKADER (EGY) 
BRONZE: Radhwen TARHOUNI (TUN)

77kg
GOLD: Mohamed KHALIL (EGY)
SILVER: Akrem BOUDJEMLINE (ALG)
BRONZE: Sami SLAMA (TUN)

82kg
GOLD: Abd Elkrim OUAKALI (ALG) df. Elias CHIGUER (MAR), 7-2

BRONZE: Mahmoud IBRAHIM (EGY) df. Francisco KADIMA (ANG), 8-0 

87kg
GOLD: Bachir SID AZARA (ALG)
SILVER: Emad ABOUELATTA (EGY)
BRONZE: Mohamed JABRI (TUN)

97kg
GOLD: Mohamed GABR (EGY) df. Adem BOUDJEMLINE (ALG), 3-2

BRONZE: Mohamed MISSAOUI (TUN) df. Wissam KOUAINSO (MAR), 5-0

130kg
GOLD: Abdellatif MOHAMED (EGY)
SILVER: Amine GUENNICHI (TUN)
BRONZE: Hichem KOUCHIT (ALG)

#WrestleAlexandria

African Championships 2024 entry list

By United World Wrestling Press

ALEXANDRIA, Egypt (March 11) — The fourth continental championships of the year, the African Championships, will be held in Alexandria, Egypt from March 14 to 19.

The tournament will see wrestlers from U17, U20 and Seniors and with the senior competition scheduled on March 19 and 20. The first day of the senior competition will see bouts in all 10 Greco-Roman and Women’s Wrestling and the second day will host 10 Freestyle weight classes.

Here the wrestlers registered for the senior Asian Championships.

Freestyle

57kg 
Salah Eddine KATEB (ALG)
Islam ZERROUGUI (ALG)
Roland TAMBI NFORSONG (CMR)
Alexander Joseph BUCKMAN (CPV)
Abdelrahman Elsayed Abdelrahman MAHMOUD (EGY)
Diamantino IUNA FAFE (GBS)
Younes LACHGAR (MAR)
John Kenneth Willbert LEOPOLD (MRI)
Omar FAYE (SEN)
KHALIL BARKOUTI (TUN)

61kg
Abdelhak KHERBACHE (ALG)
Hassan Mohamed  Elshahat Mohamed ELSAYED (EGY)
Thierno Sadou DIALLO (GUI)
Eugine Osale OMULULE (KEN)
Solomon Thato LOPENG (RSA)
Mika LEHMKUEHL (RSA)
Didier Awene DIATTA (SEN)

65kg
Zohier IFTENE (ALG)
Manaceu Nkunga NGONDA (ANG)
Samuel DOHYA KALE (CMR)
Anthony Sterling WESLEY (CPV)
Shehabeldin Emam Abdelraouf MOHAMED (EGY)
Gibriel CHOW (GAM)
Wotna Cana NDOC (GBS)
Rafael Nze NZE OYANA (GEQ)
Yassine JAA (MAR)
Stephen Simon IZOLO (NGR)
Sylvio Siyewoutima DIATTA (SEN)
Mohamed BEN HAFSIA (TUN)

70kg
Abderrahmane BENAISSA (ALG)
Ahmed Sadek Abdelfattah MOHAMED (EGY)
Brendin LOUW (RSA)
Ya Mouhamed NDONG (SEN)

 74kg
Saad BOUGUERRA (ALG)
Francisco de Deus KADIMA (ANG)
Israel NIYONKURU (BDI)
Baki TCHANI (BEN)
Honore Daniel ESSOMBA (CMR)
Joao  Paulo BARBOSA VICENTE JR (CPV)
Mohamed Tarek Abdou Khalil ABDELHADY (EGY)
Bacar NDUM (GBS)
Pedro Levi Ndong MESII NZANG (GEQ)
Mathayo Matonya MAHABILA (KEN)
Aime Mbolalalaina Joel RAKOTONIAINA (MAD)
Yassine SARDI (MAR)
Oyeinkeperemo BRAVEMAN (NGR)
Arno VAN ZIJL (RSA)
Mamadou DIOUF (SEN)
Jamal Spartan ABDUL (UGA)

79kg
Chems Eddine FETAIRIA (ALG)
Nasser Sayed Fares SAYED (EGY)
Benjamin RUBIO RONDA (GEQ)
Mohammed Amine BOUAZOUNI (MAR)
Linus Lucius VAN RENSBURG (RSA)
Mohamed Aziz BEN JAAFAR (TUN)
Jacob NTUYO (UGA)

86kg
Oussama ABDELLAOUI (ALG)
Cedric ABOSSOLO (CMR)
Matteo Alcidio Louis MONTEIRO FURTADO TRESSE (CPV)
Mohamed Ahmed Farghaly ABDELAAL (EGY)
Mohamed CAMARA (GUI)
Mark Omumasaba ONGUYESI (KEN)
Saad AMANDAR (MAR)
Oussama REGANI (MAR)
Jean David STE MARIE (MRI)
Harrison ONOVWIOMOGBOHWO (NGR)
Machiel Johannes GROBLER (RSA)
Siny SEMBENE (SEN)
Imed KADDIDI (TUN)
Ivan MASAKWE (UGA)

92kg
Yacine LAKROUT (ALG)
Aubin KAMGANG MOLOU (CMR)
Mohamed Mostafa Aly Elshamy SALAHELDIN (EGY)
Edward Louwis LESSING (RSA)
Issa RHIMI (TUN)

97kg
Fares YAHI (ALG)
Franck Lionel ANABA (CMR)
Abdelrahman Ibrahim Labib ABOUHEIBA (EGY)
Babacarr MBOGE (GAM)
Emmanuel OSEI SARFO (GHA)
Anas SAMIR (MAR)
Pape NDIAYE (SEN)
 

125kg
Djahid BERRAHAL (ALG)
Amoussou Nicolas CAKPO (BEN)
Georges TCHADIE (CMR)
Youssif Mohamed Badea HEMIDA (EGY)
Issah FUSEINI (GHA)
Ahmed SEREHALI (MAR)
Ashton Adeyemi Amin MUTUWA (NGR)
Justin VAN ZYL (RSA)
Nicolaas Johannes Steyn DE LANGE (RSA)
Modou FAYE (SEN)
Hamza RAHMANI (TUN)

Greco-Roman

55kg
Sefiane GUEZZANIA (ALG)
Bofenda David KALUWEKO (ANG)
Shaaban Safy Abdelrazek ABDELLATIF (EGY)
Virinao Cliff NGUATJITI (NAM)
Gift SIKHOSANA CHOCHI (RSA)

 60kg
Mohamed Yacine DRIDI (ALG)
Reginaldo Goncalves da SILVA (ANG)
Latuf MADI (COM)
Haithem Mahmoud Ahmed Fahmy MAHMOUD (EGY)
Fouad FAJARI (MAR)
Given SIKHOSANA (RSA)
Ibrahim BUNDUKA (SLE)

63kg
Abdennour LAOUNI (ALG)
Adham Ayman Gharib Abdou ELSAYED (EGY)
Mouad JAHID (MAR)
Romio Ricardo GOLIATH (NAM)
Kian DU TOIT (RSA)

67kg
Fayssal BENFREDJ (ALG)
Moustafa Hussein Fathy ALAMELDIN (EGY)
Souhaib KHDAR (MAR)
Sahid Tejan KARGBO (SLE)
Oussama NASR (TUN)

72kg
Abdelmalek MERABET (ALG)
Manuel Chaula BENZA (ANG)
Anthony Sterling WESLEY (CPV)
Emad Mohamed Ibrahim Mohamed Elemam GHALY (EGY)
Daniel Johannes DU TOIT (RSA)
Barend Jacobus BADENHORST (RSA)
Radhwen TARHOUNI (TUN)

 77kg
Chawki DOULACHE (ALG)
Francisco de Deus KADIMA (ANG)
Mohamed Ehab Mohamed Zahab KHALIL (EGY)
Shafaihuuna Devin BENHARD (NAM)
Dean VAN ZYL (RSA)
Slim MEJRI (TUN)

82kg
Amar MOUMENE (ALG)
Mahmoud Walid Abdelfattah IBRAHIM (EGY)
Aziz BOUALEM (MAR)
Belhasan AZAOUZI (TUN)
 
87kg
Haithem ISSAAD (ALG)
Roberto Mbaio NSANGUA (ANG)
Noureldin Hany Mohamed Gomaa HASSAN (EGY)
Wadii OUALAL (MAR)
Richard FERREIRA (RSA)
Hakim TRABELSI (TUN)
 
97kg
Amine BENDJELLOUL (ALG)
Emad Ashraf Mohamed ABOUELATTA (EGY)
Wissam KOUAINSO (MAR)
Christiaan BURGER (RSA)
Yassine BEN AICHA (TUN)
Mohamed Skander MISSAOUI (TUN)

130kg
Hichem KOUCHIT (ALG)
Abdellatif Mohamed Ahmed MOHAMED (EGY)
Ahmed SEREHALI (MAR)
Brahim MELKI (TUN)

Women’s Wrestling

50kg
Ibtissem DOUDOU (ALG)
Rosine NTSA ASSOUGA (CMR)
Malak Ahmed Mohamed Hassan Mohamed AHMED (EGY)
Debora Valeria TURE (GBS)
Emma Nekesa WANGILA (KEN)
Victorine RASOARIMALALA (MAD)
Miesinnei Mercy GENESIS (NGR)
Matilda KOKERA (RSA)
Nourhene HEDHLI (TUN)
 
53kg
Chahinez RABAH (ALG)
Mbuka Madalena CAROLINA (ANG)
Nogona Celine Josee BAKAYOKO (CIV)
Hadir Wael Imbabi AHMED (EGY)
Elisa Emma Patricia RASOANANTENAINA NOMENJANAHARY (MAD)
Zineb ECH CHABKI (MAR)
Christianah Tolulope OGUNSANYA (NGR)
Kyla MEYER (RSA)
Chahrazed AYACHI (TUN)

55kg
Aya Eid Gomaa SOLIMAN
Adijat Avorshai IDRIS
Lobna ICHAOUI

57kg
Chaimaa Fouzia AOUISSI (ALG)
Lassaleth Esperanca David ANTONIO (ANG)
Natacha Veronique NABAINA (CMR)
Shaimaa Khalifa Hussein ABDELZAHER (EGY)
Malala SOLONIAINA (MAD)
Zineb HASSOUNE (MAR)
Odunayo Folasade ADEKUOROYE (NGR)
Kara Ronelle LE ROUX (RSA)
Faten HAMMAMI (TUN)
Veronica AYO (UGA)

59kg
Hana Ali Hamada Mohamed HUSSEIN (EGY)
Ester ABRAHAM (NAM)
Mercy Bolafunoluwa ADEKUOROYE (NGR)
Chahd JELJELI (TUN)

62kg
Mastoura SOUDANI (ALG)
Gloria Lynca NIYONKURU (BDI)
Grace Nervine ABONA NKOUMOUDIE (CMR)
Angelina RODRIGUES MIRANDA (CPV)
Farah Ali Hamada Mohamed HUSSEIN (EGY)
Fatoumata Yarie CAMARA (GUI)
Eunice Wathira MBURU (KEN)
Esther Omolayo KOLAWOLE (NGR)
Minette KRUGER (RSA)

65kg
Ikome VIOLETTE NAMONDO (CMR)
Mouda Badawi Hamed Ahmed HAMDOUN (EGY)
Ebipatei MUGHENBOFA (NGR)

68kg
Yasmine BOUREGBA (ALG)
Kawiyatou ISSIFOU (BEN)
Blandine Nyeh NGIRI (CMR)
Menatalla Ahmed Osman Mostafa BADRAN (EGY)
Blessing OBORUDUDU (NGR)
Bea MEIRING (RSA)
Patricia Saifeldin Elhah ELNOUR (SUD)
Nour JELJELI (TUN)
Khadija JLASSI (TUN)

72kg
Aimelda NDIFFO (CMR)
Heba Sapry Mohamed Abdelnaby IBRAHIM (EGY)
Ebi BIOGOS (NGR)
AYA ICHAOUI (TUN)

76kg
Amy YOUIN (CIV)
Pelagie WILITA (CMR)
Arianna  Olympia XAVIER (CPV)
Jana Emad Sayed Abdelrazek SAYED (EGY)
Jemima NYARKO OFORI (GHA)
Marie Celeste Andrea VILBRUN (MRI)
Hannah Amuchechi RUEBEN (NGR)
Zaineb SGHAIER (TUN)