The silver medalist at the 2016 Olympics, Abdoul Razak Issoufou Alfaga, was prematurely eliminated from the taekwondo tournament during the Tokyo 2021 Olympics on July 26. The Nigerian collapsed after his poor heavyweight performance.
From our special correspondent in Tokyo,
He was Niger’s hope at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021. But whoever won Niger’s second medal at the Olympics failed to win another, five years after those of Rio. Worse: Abdoul Razak Issoufou Alfaga did not even have time to believe it, on July 27th. He was thrown out in his first match against Seydou Gbané, 15-9. Then the Ivorian in turn fought and destroyed the Nigerians’ chances of being drafted the bronze medal.
It is in tears that Abdoul Razak Issoufou Alfaga, world champion 2017, presented himself at Christophe Diremszian’s microphone, after his defeat. “I’m disappointed I sacrificed everything for two years,” he replies, his voice broken, full of sobs. I did it for my country. I completely gave up. I took every risk to qualify. I’m coming to the Olympics to really honor Niger. But I did not succeed ”.
Double grief for Niger
Overwhelmed by emotions, he lets go: “It hurts because I know that many people in Niger, my family, my fans, have not slept to see my match. I apologize. People will be disappointed because I was the only athlete presented as a real chance for a medal. But I will give everything to go to the Paris Games. “
For Niger, it is a new heartbeat. Two days earlier, his compatriots Tekiath Ben Yessouf lost the bronze medal very little, still in taekwondo.
.
