Judo (African Championships): Algeria arrives in Dakar with 18 fighters

The next African Senior Championships are scheduled from 20 to 23 May in Dakar (Senegal). For this continental judo event, Algeria will be represented by 18 fighters (9 men and 9 women). This competition is of utmost importance for all the judokas involved, as it is considered as the last chance to qualify for the Olympic Games of Tokyo 2021.

In the Algerian delegation, the 18 judokas will try to win as many medals as possible, in order to honour the national colours. Among the men, there will be 9 fighters, including Mohamed Rebahi (-60 kg), Waïl Ezzine (-60 kg), Boubekeur Rebahi (-60 kg), Fethi Nourine (-73 kg), Houd Zourdani (-73 kg), Abderrahmane Benamadi (-90 kg), Oussama Kabri (-90 kg), Mustapha Yasser Bouamar (-100 kg) and Mohamed Sofiane Belrakaâ (+100 kg).

Among the women, there will also be 9 judokats, such as Hadjer Mecerrem (-48 kg), Faïza Aïssahine (-52 kg), Meriem Moussa (-52 kg), Yamina Halata (-57 kg), Amina Belkadi (-63 kg), Souad Belakehal (-70 kg), Kaouthar Ouallal (-78 kg), Sonia Asselah (+78 kg) and Meroua Mammeri (+78 kg).

This competition is of utmost importance for all the judokas involved, as it is considered as the last chance to qualify for the Olympic Games of Tokyo 2021. This is also the case for the Algerian judokas, because in addition to the continental titles that will be at stake in the different weight categories, they are aiming for a qualification to the Japanese Olympics, especially Belkadi Amina, Sonia Asselah and Abderrahmane Benamadi.

Before reaching Dakar, the national selection had transited through Tunisia, where they had a two-day training camp, during which they made the final adjustments to their preparation.