RABAT, September 4, 2019 - The 12th edition of the African Games concluded in Rabat, Morocco following thrilling sixteen days of action. Coincidentally, the top four countries from the previous edition in Congo Brazzaville - Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa and Algeria - replicated their rankings in 2019, with Egypt able to defend it’s overall medals title.
We focus on the key figures, including some breakout stars, from the more than 6000 athletes that took part in 26 disciplines at the Games commonly referred to as “the African Olympics”.
Gina Bass – The Gambia
When little known Gina Bass finished just 0.04 seconds behind triple African Games gold medallist Marie-Josee Ta Lou in the 100m, the celebrated Ivorian must have known that a showdown was looming in the 200m. And boy, did Bass bring it! The Gambian upset defending champion Ta Lou in a new national record of 22.58 seconds at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. Ta Lou clocked 23.00 to finish third and eventually had to be stretchered off, although the timing of her injury naturally raised eyebrows. Gina became The Gambia’s first female Olympian during the Rio 2016 Games where she placed 52nd in the 200m heats, and the flagbearer will have another go after securing a ticket to the Tokyo 2020 Games. The 24 year old will also take part in the World Championships in Doha.
Raymond Ekevwo - Nigeria
From a reality show to claiming the title of ‘Africa’s Fastest Man’. Raymond Ekevwo made many bits of African athletics history when he won the 100m at the 2019 African Games. The 20-year-old became the first Nigerian man to win the 100m sprint at the competition since 2007. He also became the tenth Nigerian in history to break the fabled 10 second barrier when he clocked 9.96 seconds in Rabat. And to think that in different circumstances, Ekevwo would not have taken to the track. Initially, US-based Nigerian track star Divine Oduduru was listed for the 100 metres, but the 22-year-old had cast doubt over his participation at the Games and Ekevwo took his place. With the three fastest 100m times by Africans in 2019 run by Nigerians - Divine Oduduru 9.94, Raymond Ekevwo 9.96, Usheoritse Itsekiri 10.02 - the young men, who have consequently qualified for the 2020 Olympics, have also instilled hope in a sprint revival by the West African country.
Cheikh Sallah Cisse – Ivory Coast
Cheikh Sallah Cisse makes a lot of people proud when he wins. However, the Taekwondo 80kg Olympic Champion’s father is top of that list. Abdel Cisse was the original taekwondoist in the family, but financial constraints prevented him from living out his dream. His son Cheikh, who also credits Ivorian football legend Didier Drogba as his inspiration, took it up. And in Morocco the 25-year-old defended his 2015 Congo gold, making him a double African Champion. However, 2019 started on a blip for Cisse who was nursing a hamstring injury suffered in October last year during the Manchester Grand Prix. Rabat, which incidentally in 2017 is where Cheikh won one of his four Grand Prix gold medals, has awakened what has been a slow season for the Ivorian.
Olajide Omotayo - Nigeria
In 2016 Olajide Omotayo was in the United States contemplating on giving up his table-tennis dream and getting a regular job. One of the few rays of hope was watching his fellow Nigerian and African Champion Aruna Quadri play in the Rio Olympics. He then called up Quadri who motivated him not to give up and subsequently became his mentor. Fast forward three years to the 2019 African Games, and Omotayo beat Quadri in the Men’s Singles title to dethrone him as Africa number one. The apprentice beat the master. This coming from a player who did not even make the Nigerian team for the 2015 African Games in Congo, Brazzaville. The 25-year-old was introduced to the sport by his elder sister, who turned the family’s dining table to a table-tennis board. The dreadlocked champion never looked back, and credits the 2018 Commonwealth Games where he scooped silver as one of his greatest accomplishments. In a May 2019 interview with Nigeria’s The Nation, the former junior champion said “My biggest dream is to get to the top 50 in the world and become African champion as well as win African Top 16 Cup. I also want to qualify for the Olympic Games and other goals I set out to achieve in my career.” With a Tokyo 2020 ticket firmly in hand for the African Champion, it’s safe to say Olajide has been busy ticking off his to-do list.
Ghana is expected to host the next African Games in 2023. However, the world looks ahead to several competitions between now and then, key among them being the 2019 World Championships in Doha and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. It is Africa’s hope that it’s stars will shine and that the continent will continue to produce more talent.
