It was only the first day of Taekwondo at the 2019 African Games. Nevertheless, the sport yielded three medals for Nigeria as Ruth Chinazum Nwosu won the country’s first GOLD medal in the women’s 49-53kg category, while Benjamin Okuomose (+87 kg) and Sunday Onofe (80-87kg) both secured Bronze medals in their respective categories.
Nwosu secured a hard-fought victory over home girl Oumaima El Bouchti who proved a worthy opponent. However, the Nigerian held on to snatch the win (26-22).
Having beaten Laye Saydina Seye of Senegal 40-37 in the quarterfinals, Okuomose lost his semifinal bout to Alfaga Abdoul Razaq of Niger 32-10 but will no doubt be consoled by his podium finish.
It was a similar story for Onofe who defeated Frederic Adoua of Chad 15-5 in the quarterfinal but in the semis, fell to the superior strength of Seydou Gbane of Cote d’Ivoire who won 15-12.
