African Games: Okong'o wins Kenya first boxing gold medal since 2007

Kenyan boxer Edwin Okong’o on Friday night delivered on his pre-fight promises as he successfully got past Moroccan youngster Yassine Elouarz to win the African Games men’s middleweight gold medal.

The win, which came in a 3-1 judges’ score, was significant for Kenya, as it was the nation’s first gold medal since 2007, the year legendary boxer Suleiman Bilali won one in Algiers, Algeria.

It was also East Africa’s first since then, and a major achievement for Okong’o, who was making his second appearance in the championships after being knocked out of contention early in 2019.

En route to Kenya’s second medal in the Accra Games - compatriot Amina Martha clinched bronze in the women’s bantamweight on Thursday - Okong’o came up against an all North African representation, that he solidly dismissed.

After getting a bye in the preliminary stages, Okong’o secured his first win against Tunisia’s Mohamed Elal in the quarterfinals, before sealing a finals slot thanks to a 5-0 convincing victory over Algeria’s Ahmed Ghazli.

African Games: Okong'o on a mission in big final as injured Martha claims historic bronze

Martha was meanwhile among the boxers who received their medals later on in the night at BBA Bukom Boxing Arena, as she continues to recover from her right shoulder injury suffered in her semi final first-round stoppage against Nigeria’s Shukura Kareem, who instead took silver after losing 0-5 to Moroccan Widad Bertal in their Friday final.

And so after sending out only four boxers, Kenya scooped two medals, and were ranked eighth on the continent.

Nigeria, with a bigger pool, topped the standings with eight golds and two silver medals.