Moroccan Boxer Yasmine Mouttaki (50 kg) qualified on Thursday for the Olympic Games that are scheduled for 2024 in Paris.
In the African Boxing Qualification Tournament semifinals, held at the Dakar Arena Sports Complex in Diamniadio, 30 km from the Senegalese capital, she had defeated Diyoka Benedicte from the Democratic Republic of Congo with a score of 5-0.
Mouttaki joins her compatriot, Widad Bertal (54 kg), who secured a place in the Paris Olympics by defeating Haghighat-Joo Sara from Sierra Leone with a score of 5-0.
Khadija El Mardi (75 kg), the reigning world champion from Morocco, secured herself a place in the final by defeating Mbata Patricia Adanma Epelle from Nigeria winning 4-1. In the final, El Mardi will face Elizabeth Adhiambo Andiego from Kenya to vie for a spot in the 2024 Olympics.
Two male Moroccan boxers, Ayoub Maânni (92 kg) and Mohamed Firisse (+92 kg), were eliminated in the semifinals. Ayoub Maânni lost to Olaoré Olaitan Aadam from Nigeria, while Balde Diarga from Senegal defeated Mohamed Firisse.
Said Mortaji (51 kg) competed in the semifinals with Patrick Chinyemba from Zambia.
This competition, which started on Saturday at the Dakar Arena, brings together boxers from 43 countries, including 13 boxers representing Morocco.
The Moroccan national team, coached by Abdelhak Achik and Youssef Sourour under the technical direction of Othmane Fadili, includes Yasmine Mouttaki (50 kg), Widad Bertal (54 kg), Laela El Ksiri (57 kg), Nissrine Amine (60 kg), Oumaima Belhabib (66 kg), and Khadija El Mardi (75 kg).
The men’s category, led by Hicham Nafil, includes Saïd Mourtaji (51 kg), Soulaïmane Essemghouli (57 kg), Abdelhaq Nadir (63.5 kg), Mohamed Rabii (71 kg), Mohamed Assaghir (80 kg), Ayoub Maânni (92 kg), and Mohamed Firisse (+92 kg).
Vice President of the Royal Moroccan Boxing Federation (FRMB) and former World Champion Khalid Kandili led the Moroccan delegation in this African competition.
African boxers are competing for 18 qualifying spots for the Paris 2024 Olympic Qualification Tournament (TQO), 11 spots for women and 7 for men.
Boxers who fail to qualify for the Olympics in Dakar will have two more opportunities at the global TQOs, one in Busto Arzizio, Italy, from February 29 to March 12, 2024, and another in Bangkok, Thailand, from May 23 to June 3, 2024.
This is the second Olympic qualification event for Paris 2024 in boxing, following the 2023 European Games, where 44 boxers secured places.