Wednesday, September 13
*Shafic Mawanda vs Theophilus Allotey (Ghana)
*Joshua Tukamuhebwa vs Mehdi Dridi (Tunisia)
*Isaac Zebra Ssenyange vs Michael Pakela (Lesotho)
Three Ugandan boxers including captain Joshua Tukamuhebwa will be in action on Wednesday at the ongoing African Boxing Olympic Qualifiers in Dakar, Senegal.
Shafic Mawanda and Isaac Zebra Ssenyange are the other two boxers that will be in the ring on the day as the competition’s quarterfinals get underway.
The three are the Ugandan boxers still standing in Dakar from a team of six after elimination of Shadir Musa Bwogi, Jonah Kyobe and Grace Nankinga.
Nankinga, the only female pugilist on the team that was controversially assembled by Uganda Olympic Committee, lost 5-0 against Yusufu Zulfa Macho of Tanzania on Day One in the Women’s 50kg.
Kyobe also lost 5-0 on Day One against Rogoberto Armando of Mozambique in the Men’s 51kg round of 32.
And the hope remains in the other three who must win gold in their respective weights to book a ticket to Paris Olympics next year.
The qualification for the Olympics were tightened as only Seven boxers – one from each weight category – will represent the African continent in Paris.
Ssenyange, son to assassinated Zebra Mando, started his journey with a walkover against Deng Malou of South Sudan who didn’t show up for the Men’s 51kg round of 32 contest.
He then beat South Africa’s Simnikiwe Bongco at the Round of 16 to reach Wednesday’s Quarterfinals.
Michael Pakela of Lesotho stand in Ssenyange’s way to the semis.
Tukamuhebwa on the other hand, started with a knock out against Ethiopia’s Alem Gebremariam in the second round of the Men’s 63.5kg round of 32 fight.
The Bombers captain then stopped Farlo Ndjinga of Gabon again in the second round to storm the Quarterfinals where Mehdi Dridi of Tunisia await.
Fathia Mawanda on the other hand, who is on the National team for the very first time, after getting a bye at the round of 32, eased past his Senegalese opponent Sow Pape Mamadou in the Men’s 51kg to book a Quarterfinal ticket.
He will be in action against Ghana’s Theophilus Allotey.
It’s strong to note that three Boxers – Shadir Musa Bwogi, David Ssemujju and Catherine Nanziri – represented the Country at the previous Olympics in Tokyo.
