Algeria won five Olympic berths in Greco-Roman wrestling, Nigeria dominated in women’s wrestling and Egypt took four in men’s freestyle wrestling at the African & Oceania Olympic Games Qualifiers held in Alexandria, Egypt from March 22- 24.
The Greco-Roman wrestling tournament ended with the dominance of Algeria and Egypt, who claimed nine out of the 12 Olympic berths. Egypt already had an Olympic quota in the 130 kg category, meaning that Egypt and Algeria now have five Olympic berths.
Most surprisingly, Egypt failed to qualify in the 67kg category, where Tokyo 2020 bronze medallist Mohamed Elsayed was competing. Elsayed was stunned by Tunisia’s Souleymen Nasr in the quarterfinals and left the mat disappointed. He will now have a chance to qualify at the World Qualification Tournament in Istanbul in May.
Nigeria now has five Olympic quotas in women’s wrestling. With Odunayo Adekuoroye (-57kg) already qualified for the 2023 World Championships, Nigeria added another four quotas in Alexandria.
Christianah Ogunsanya (53kg), Esther Kolawole (62kg), Blessing Oborududu (68 kg) and Hannah Reuben (76 kg) all won gold at the African Games 2023 and at the African Championships 2024 in the last two weeks to qualify for Paris 2024.
The only Nigerian not to qualify in Alexandria was Miesinnei Genesis, who lost to Egypt’s Nada Mohamed in the semi-finals. Tokyo 2020 runner-up Oborududu didn’t qualify via the World Championships, but she was too strong for her opponents in the qualifying tournament.
New Zealand and Algeria won Olympic berths in women’s wrestling for the first time in history. Ibtissem Doudou and Chaimaa Aouissi (both Algeria) reached the final in the 50kg and 57kg categories respectively, while Tayla Ford (New Zeland) qualified in the 68kg category.