This archive report was first published on 28 August 2019.
On the path to securing a spot in the medal bracket, five Kenyan boxers, led by the stylish Shaffi Bakari, have made it to the semi-finals of the ongoing African Games in Rabat, Morocco.
Shaffi Bakari, competing in the flyweight category, outclassed Champion Businge from Uganda with a 4-1 victory, while Cosby Ouma, in the middleweight category, secured a close 3-2 win against Arena Pakela from Lesotho.
On Monday night, Bakari and Ouma guided their compatriots to the semi-finals after stopping their respective opponents.
Shaffi Bakari will face Dawit Bekele from Ethiopia in the semi-finals, while Cosby Ouma will confront home boxer Tarik Allali. Bekele waylaid Sahabi Gado from Niger 3-2, and Allali stopped Carlos L'muala Glory from the Democratic Republic of Congo 5-0.
Kenya's medal hopes are also pinned on Boniface Mogunde (welterweight), Fredrick Ramogi (super heavyweight), and Elly Ajowi (heavyweight), who had earlier qualified in the medal bracket show.
Mogunde will face Nigerian Abdul-afeez Ayoola, Ramogi takes on Jeamie Kimbembi from the Democratic Republic of Congo, while Ajowi will slug it out with home pugilist Youness Baalla in the semi-finals.
