Tokyo 2020 Olympian Elizabeth Anyanacho, Benjamin Okuomose as well as debutant Ifeoluwa Ajayi will on Sunday, February 11, make their final push for Paris 2024 Olympic Games tickets at the African Taekwondo Union (AFTU)-organised Olympics Qualifying Tournament taking place at the Dakar Arena in Senegal.
Chinazum Nwosu failed in third attempt to qualify for the Olympic Games after losing her first round fight to Mali’s Moham Aissata Siby 2-1 of the women’s -49kg.
A defeat blamed on fatigue by Coach John Victor.
However, Anyanacho who is the country’s most active taekwondist needs to win her first fight against Kenya’s Jully Musangi in the women’s -67kg to secure her spot at Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
A victory for the 2019 African Games medallist will secure a place for her among the 16 elite athletes that are expected to compete in the women’s -67kg at Paris 2024 Olympic Games in France.
In the men’s +80kg, Okuomose will face his biggest challenge when he takes on London 2012 Olympic Games silver medallist Anthony Obame of Gabon in the first round.
Obame is a familiar foe to the Nigerian national champion as it was the same Gabonese that stopped Okuomose from making it to Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games despite the dominance of the Nigerian in the deciding Olympics tickets fight in Morocco in 2019.
This might be another chance for Okuomose to avenge his defeat with the hope of making his second appearance at the Olympics Qualifying Tournament a rewarding trip.
Ajayi, who is making his debut at the Olympics Qualifying Tournament, has been pitted against Mali’s Mohamed Fofana in the first round of the men’s -68kg.
Coach John has put the first exit of Nwosu behind him with the hope of leading the trio of Anyanacho, Okuomose and Ajayi to secure their spots at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
16 spots made up of eight men and eight women will be up for grabs in Dakar as the tournament ends on Sunday, February 11.