African Championships -- Preview

North African Countries Look to Remain Dominant at Continental Championship

TUNIS, TUNISIA (March 27) -- Africa claims a population of over a billion people with a landmass three times the size of the USA, and this weekend, 24 wrestlers will become champions of the entire continent.  On March 28, 29 and 30, in Tunis, nations from the Mediterranean Sea to the Cape of Good Hope send athletes to compete in all three Olympic styles for Africa’s highest wrestling prize.

The class of the African wrestling nations comes from the north of the continent. Egypt, Algeria and host nation Tunisia historically have dominated the competition at the African Championship. Egypt, in particular, qualified a wrestler at all but two men’s weights for the 2014 London Olympics. Meanwhile, the best teams from sub-Saharan Africa will come from Senegal, Chad, South Africa, Cameroon and Nigeria, which features wrestlers seasoned by British Commonwealth competition, and this tournament’s most decorated men’s freestyle wrestler, Sinivie BOLTIC at 125 kg.

Since the retirement of Egypt’s two-time Olympic finalist Karem GABER after the London Games, Africa searches for a new wrestling superstar to lead it into this new era for this sport. If that star arises, she will likely arrive from the women’s freestyle side of the competition. Two African women’s wrestlers enjoy world rankings, Isabelle SAMBOU (SEN), No. 14 at 53 kg, and Marwa AMRI (TUN), No.5 at 55 kg. The Tunisian standout AMRI has looked impressively of late after a first place win at the prestigious Klippan Open. This weekend she will look to claim another African Championship, this time in her home country.

A number of notable wrestlers appear in all three styles: men’s freestyle, women’s freestyle and Greco-Roman.

Wrestlers to watch in men’s freestyle

Foremost of the men’s freestyle wrestlers is the aforementioned BOLTIC (NGR). Three times an African champion, BOLTIC shocked the wrestling world with a fifth-place finish at the 2011 World Championships in Istanbul. BOLTIC holds such high regard among his countrymen that they selected him as the flag bearer for the Nigerian delegation at the London Games. Last year, BOLTIC had a bit of a letdown in the 2013 African Championships, where he finished third at 96 kg. Now, after moving up in weight, and a brief dalliance with Greco-Roman, Boltic looks to regain his old form with a 2014 gold in the African Championships.

Egypt also brings a men’s freestyle wrestler with world-level credentials in Hassan Ibrahimi MADANI at 65 kg. MADANI is a battle tested veteran who has won this tournament multiple times and competed in two Olympics. In 2012, he placed eighth at the London Games, the highest Egyptian finish in a non- boycotted Olympics in over 60 years.

Wrestlers to watch in Greco-Roman

Due to the higher skill level of the North African nations, the Greco-Roman competition offers greater depth of talent than that of men’s freestyle.  Egypt brings a pair of decorated Greco-Roman competitors: Haitham Mahmoud FAHMY at 59 kg, 12th in the 2013 World Championships, and Tarek Abdelsalam at 75 kg, a 2013 Junior World bronze medalist.  From the opposite side of North Africa, Morocco brings Fouad FAJARI at 59 kg, a 2012 Olympian and third in the 2012 Grand prix of Spain. Another 2012 Olympian, Radhouane CHEBBI (TUN) is the favorite to win gold at 130 kg. CHEBBI is a two time African champion, a 2012 Olympian and finished in eighth at the 2013 World Championships.

Wrestlers to Watch in Women’s Freestyle

The Women’s portion of the competition features the only to African wrestlers with a current world ranking. One of these women, Marwa AMRI (TUN) has climbed all the way to the No. 5 ranking in the world. The Tunisian wrestler has flirted with great things in the past, placing eighth at the 2012 Olympics and tenth at the 2013 World Championships, but in this new year, and at the new weight of 55 kg, AMRI finally appears ready to win another African Championship, and claim an elusive medal at the World Championships.

Africa’s second highest-ranked wrestler is Isabelle SAMBOU (SEN) holds the No. 14 at 53 kg. The Senegalese multiple-time African champion has placed in the top ten at three different World Championships, and fifth in the 2012 Olympics. This year, she finished in an impressive fifth place at the Ivan Yariguin Memorial.

African Championships Schedule

Friday, March 28

10:00-13:00 - Qualification rounds and repechages Greco-Roman– all categories

18:00-20:00 –Medal matches Greco-Roman – all categories

Saturday, March 29

10:00-13:00 Qualification rounds and repechages Women’s Freestyle – all categories

18:00-20:00 Medal matches Women’s Freestyle – all categories

Sunday, March 30

10:00-13.00 Qualification rounds and repechages Men’s Freestyle – all categories

18:00-20:00 Medal matches Men’s Freestyle– all categories