At the 2016 Olympics in Rio, African delegations won 45 medals, including 10 gold. Will Africa do better at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics? Here are ten athletes and teams from the mainland to watch in Japan.
Abdoul Razak Issoufou Alfaga (Taekwondo / Niger)
With Cheick Cissé and Ruth Gbagbi (Ivory Coast) or Anthony Obame (Gabon), Africa will still be very well represented at the Olympics. The silver medalist in Rio 2016, Abdoul Razak Alfaga can legitimately be one of the favorites for the heavyweight title in Tokyo. Seriously injured at the end of December 2019, the Nigerian perhaps paradoxically took advantage of the postponement of the Olympics to approach the tournament in better shape.
Inès Boubakri (Fencing / Tunisia)
Bronze medalist at Rio Games, Tunisia has written new pages in the history of African fencing. In Tokyo, the one who excels in both épée and foil intends to take a new step: either by winning silver as the Egyptian Alaaeldin Abouelkassem had done in London 2012. Or by becoming the very first African Olympic champion in the discipline, men and women equal.
Soufiane El Bakkali (Athletics / Morocco)
Second at the Worlds 2017 and third at those of 2019, the Moroccan center is battling the tough East African competition, over 3,000 meters of towers. The fourth in Rio, the young founder can do better than his compatriots Ali Ezzine, bronze medalist in 2000.
Nigeria men’s basketball team
Nigerian basketball has been euphoric in recent years, as illustrated by the titles of the women’s national team, two-time African champion and quarter-finalist at the last World Cup, and the men, the latest goal scorers from the USA and Argentina in preparation for the 2021 Olympics. D’Tigers want to surprise in Tokyo.
South Africa Rugby Sevens Team for Men
Safe bets on rugby seven, Blitzboks won bronze in Rio 2016, as they did at the World Cup 2018. For South Africans, these Olympic Games have a double goal: to win gold and prepare for the best. The world 2022 that will take place on their land. It remains to be seen how the gang at Selvyn Davids melted a long period of stressful isolation due to the positive Covid-19 test by their trainer Neil Powell.
Giana Farouk (Karate / Egypt)
Three-time world champions represent the Egyptians the best chance for an African medal in the discipline, in Tokyo, with the Moroccan Btissam Sadini and the Algerian Lamya Matoub. For this icon of Egyptian sport, it would be an ultimate success to win the land of karate.
Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (Road Cycling / South Africa)
South Africa arrives in full confidence in Tokyo. She finished second in the Tour of Italy (Giro Rosa) with a stage victory. Experienced and versatile, Ashleigh Moolman will compete in the road race and then in the individual time trial. Hoping to do better than at the London Games and Rio Games. In 2016, she finished tenth in the road race.
Aruna Quadri (Table Tennis / Nigeria)
In Rio, the Nigerian created a sensation by becoming the first African table tennis player to reach the quarterfinals of an Olympic tournament. Used to rub shoulders with the best, “Rocky Aruna” (his nickname) hopes to make it to a medal in the midst of fierce competition from Asia in particular.
Marie-Josée Ta Lou (Athletics / Ivory Coast)
The Ivorian experienced a real trauma at the Rio Games where she finished four times twice. In the 100 meters, she was edged for a thousandth of a second by Jamaican Shell-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Despite the tears, the pocket sprinter was back in action and took the podium at the worlds (silver in the 100 and 200 m in 2017 and bronze in the 100 m in 2019) and at the African Championships. In good shape before the 2021 Olympics, however, Marie-Josée Ta Lou will face very strong competition.
Hugues Fabrice Zango (Athletics / Burkina Faso)
Will the triple jumper give Burkina Faso the first Olympic medal in its history? The stallion continues to develop from competition to competition. Bronze medalist at the worlds in 2019, Burkinabè aims for gold in Tokyo and has every reason to believe it: in January last year, he broke the world record for the triple indoor jump, with a mark of 18.07 meters. Outdoors, he signed one of the best performances in this year’s world, with 17.82 meters. So …
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