Mahommed suffers early exit from Africa championships
Calistus Kolantsho | Tuesday September 13, 2022 15:23
Mahommed lost his opening bout in the 51kg category against Moziane Mohammed-Elamin of Algeria yesterday. Another local boxer, Lere Solomon lost to Bathily Abdoul Karim of Mali in the 60kg category. George Molwantwa won his first bout of the championships against Moustache Romani Roberto Angelo of Seychelles in the 54kg battle.
Hard-hitting Mmusi Tswiigi beat Xayimpi Mandisile Jeffery of South Africa in the heavyweight category (71kg).
Tswiigi utilised his experience from professional boxing after his recent debut where he emerged victorious against South African boxer, Simon Dladla. Botswana Boxing Association president, Gilbert Khunwane said it was unfortunate that Mahommed was eliminated so early in the competition.
“He is one person that we expected to go far in the championship looking at the experience he has in this type of competition. He is a former African champion,” he said. Mahommed competed at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
He also competed in the men's flyweight event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics where he lost to Yuberjen Martínez of Colombia in the first round. Gold medallists from the Mozambique tournament will get $10,000 (approx. P120,000), with silver medallists receiving $5,000 (P60,000), while those who claim bronze get $2,500 (P30,000).
Algeria, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Comoros, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eswatini, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Mali, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zambia are participating in the competition which ends on Sunday.