Abderrahmane Benamadi oldest man to take African judo title

Abderrahmane Benamadi won the sixth African title of his career in Oran today, triumphing in the men's U90kg on a home mat. He is the oldest man in the history to become African Champion, aged 36 years. Only female judoka Taciana Cesar and Assmaa Niang were older (both in 2020).

South Africa's Thomas-Laszlo Breytenbach, 20, reached the final at the African Judo Championships, but was unable to match Benamadi, losing inside 44 seconds. Bronze medals went to the Egyptian Ali Hazen and Femi Feuillet from Mauritius.

Benamadi, now 36, won a silver medal at the World Championships in Cairo back in 2005.

The women's U78kg also produced a gold medal for the host nation, with Kaouthar Ouallal going one better than Benamadi and winning a seventh continental crown.

Ouallal beat consecutive rivals from Cameroon to secure the title - Georgika Wesley Djengue Moune and the Ayuk Otay Arrey Sophina.

Djengue Moune took the silver medal and Arrey Sophina a bronze, alongside Hafsa Yatim from Morocco.

Tunisian Sarra Mzougui won the women's open category, seeing off Senegal's Monica Sagna in the final.

Fellow Tunisian Koussay Ben Ghares beat home judoka Mustapha Yesser to claim men's U100kg gold.

The men's over-100kg title went the way of Mohamed Sofiane Belrekaa, giving the host nation a third gold of the day.

Tunisia's Wahib Hdiouech beat Mbagnick Ndiaye from Senegal - the top-ranked athlete at the African Judo Championships - in the last four, but then came unstuck versus Belrekaa.

Algeria now have seven gold medals at the home African Judo Championships.