Ghana’s Samuel Takyi secured the nation’s first Olympic medal since 1992, guaranteeing at least a bronze in the men’s featherweight boxing division after a 3-2 points victory over Colombia’s Ceiber David Segura on July 31, 2021.
The 20-year-old faces USA’s Duke Ragan in the semi-finals on August 3, with a chance to fight for gold.
Takyi’s achievement adds to Ghana’s boxing legacy, with three of their four Olympic medals—silver by Clement Quartey (1960) and bronzes by Eddie Blay (1964) and Prince Amartey (1972)—coming in the sport.
Algeria’s Imane Khelif remains Africa’s only other boxing medal hope, facing Ireland’s Kellie Harrington in the women’s lightweight quarter-finals on August 3, where a win ensures at least a bronze.
Athletics: Mixed Fortunes
South Africa’s Akani Simbine narrowly missed a men’s 100m medal, finishing fourth in 9.93 seconds behind Italy’s Lamont Marcell Jacobs (9.80), USA’s Fred Kerley, and Canada’s Andre de Grasse.
Nigeria’s Enoch Adegoke, who qualified for the final in a photo-finish semi-final (10.00), pulled up injured after 50 meters.
Other Africans, including South Africa’s Shaun Maswanganyi, Ivory Coast’s Arthur Cissé, and Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala—who broke his national record with 10.00—failed to reach the final.
Nigeria’s Tobi Amusan advanced to the women’s 100m hurdles final on August 2 with the fourth-fastest semi-final time, while Liberia’s Ebony Morrison set a national record (12.74) but didn’t progress.
In the men’s 800m, Kenya’s Ferguson Rotich and Emmanuel Korir reached the final on August 4, with Rotich winning his semi-final and Korir securing second. Botswana’s Nijel Amos fell after clipping USA’s Isaiah Jewett in a dramatic semi-final, lamenting, “I still can’t put my head around it.” Morocco’s Oussama Nabil and Tunisia’s Abdessalem Ayouni also missed the final.
South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk, Botswana’s Isaac Makwala, and Leungo Scotch advanced to the men’s 400m semi-finals on August 2, with van Niekerk aiming to defend his 2016 title.
Five African women—Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech and Hyvin Kiyeng, Ethiopia’s Zerfe Wondemagegn and Mekides Abebe, and Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai—qualified for the women’s 3,000m steeplechase final on August 4. Nigeria’s Ese Brume reached the women’s long jump final with a 6.76m leap.
Handball: Egypt’s Strong Showing
Egypt’s men’s handball team finished second in Group B, defeating Bahrain 30-20 for their fourth win. Their only loss was to world champions Denmark (32-27). Captain Ahmed Elahmar, 37, acknowledged the challenge of facing Germany in the August 3 quarter-finals, stating, “If you want to go for a medal, you are going to face the toughest opponents.” Egypt’s performance highlights Africa’s growing handball presence, with the continent hosting the 2022 African Men’s Handball Championship.
Golf and Volleyball
In golf, South Africa’s Christiaan Bezuidenhout and Zimbabwe’s Scott Vincent tied for 16th at 11 under par, seven shots behind gold medalist Xander Schauffele. South Africa’s Garrick Higgo finished tied for 53rd at even par. Tunisia’s men’s volleyball team ended their Pool B campaign winless, losing 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-16) to the Russian Olympic Committee, exiting at the bottom of their group.
Water Polo Woes
South Africa’s women’s water polo team concluded their Group A campaign with a 14-1 loss to Australia, finishing pointless with a -90 goal difference. The team struggled in their Olympic debut, reflecting the challenges faced by African teams in the sport, compounded by the pandemic’s impact, with global cases exceeding 198 million.
Context and Impact
Africa’s 39 medals at Tokyo 2020, including 11 golds, saw Kenya top the continent’s table, per BBC Sport Africa. The Games, held under strict Covid-19 protocols with no spectators, were postponed from 2020, with events rescheduled to July 23–August 8, 2021. Takyi’s medal and strong showings from Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa highlight the continent’s resilience, though injuries and near-misses, like Simbine’s, underscore the competitive intensity.
