▪️Africa had 28 boxers in action with three female pugilists making it to the semi-finals and one in the finals

November 12, 2026

Africa’s quest for Youth Olympic boxing glory suffered a brutal reality check on Wednesday, November 11, as the continent’s gold medal hopes were reduced to a single fighter.

Out of 28 boxers representing Africa at the Dakar Youth Olympics, only Algeria’s minimumweight sensation, Bouthaina Bensalah, survived the semi-final pounding to book a spot in today’s finals.

Bensalah, the 2025 African Youth Games silver medalist, kept the continental flag flying by the narrowest of margins, grinding out a thrilling 3-2 split-decision victory over Italy’s Michela Guglielmon.

However, the celebratory mood in the African camp quickly soured as the continent’s remaining two semi-finalists were decisively beaten:

• Cerine Kessal (Algeria): The flyweight hopeful suffered a lopsided 5-0 unanimous defeat against Venezuela’s South American Youth Games champion, Grenyelis Garcia.

• Menatalla Ibrahim (Egypt) In the lightweight division, Ibrahim was completely outclassed, dropping a 5-0 whitewash to Uzbekistan’s Rushanabonu Isoeva.

 A wake-up call in the ring

Walking away from a home-continent tournament with just one finalist out of 28 entrants marks a sobering, disastrous outing for African amateur boxing.

The results have laid bare a widening gulf in class between Africa’s young pugilists and their counterparts from Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Boxing analysts point to a glaring culprit behind the slump: severe ring rust. While European and Asian confederations boast packed, competitive year-round calendars, African fighters continue to suffer from a chronic lack of international exposure and regular high-level tournaments in the continent known more for petty squabbles among its National Federations, myopism, inconsistent government funding and greed for positions at the expense of development.

For now, the weight of an entire continent rests squarely on Bouthaina Bensalah’s shoulders as she steps into the ring today to fight for pride—and Africa’s lone shot at boxing gold against India’s Gunjan Gunjan in the finals.

In the meantime, Africa – the sleeping giant – will continue snoring as Europe, Asia and the Americas keep their boxers busy with constant quality tournaments.

▪️World Championships pre-quarter finalist featherweight Paul Omondi, Caleb Wandera and Wiseman Kavondo are back in Police team for the Kisumu fourth leg battle

November 11, 2026

Stung by the runaway dominance of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), defending Kenya National Boxing League champions Kenya Police—popularly known as Chafua Chafua—have recalled three of their most lethal weapons ahead of the fourth leg of the league in Kisumu from November 12-14, 2026.

Police coach James Wasao, a former international, has drafted in 2025 Africa Zone 3 bronze medallists Paul Omondi (featherweight), Caleb “Sugu” Wandera (light-welterweight), and polished southpaw Wiseman Kavondo (welterweight) for the three-day showdown at Ofafa Memorial Hall starting this Thursday, November 12 through Saturday, November 14.

According to Wasao, the trio missed the opening three legs of the season while undergoing mandatory training at the Police Training College in Kiganjo. Their return injects massive firepower into the defending champions’ camp, who currently trail KDF by 22 points on the league standings. KDF leads the table with 72 points, followed by Police (50), Nakuru’s Sombea (23), Kasarani Youth (21), and fifth-placed Kenya Prisons (19).

Ring analysts view the reinforcements as a clear warning to the soldiers that the lakeside city will be anything but a walk in the park.

In the featherweight division, Kibra Youth Boxing Club product Paul Omondi faces an immediate acid test against reigning Kenya Open champion Chris Juma and G44’s Euticus Wanjau. Omondi’s return has prompted coach Wasao to shift Mwinyi Kombo, alias “Giant Killer,” up to lightweight. There, Kombo joins a stacked bracket featuring unbeaten destroyer Ben Juma and Washington Wandera, who also returns to action after missing the first three legs. With KDF’s stylish Samuel Njau—who lost thrice to Ben Juma in the earlier legs—sidelined by work commitments, Ben Juma will have to elevate his game against Kombo and a fresh Wandera to prove he is the undisputed lightweight king.

The light-welterweight division promises fireworks with the return of hard-hitting Caleb “Sugu” Wandera. He faces a steep climb against Kenya Open champion Ayub Waweru of Sombea, KDF’s vastly improved Pius Macharia, Prisons’ Aloice Vincent—who defeated Macharia in the third-leg finals in Vihiga—and Kasarani Youth’s tough-as-nails Elvis Lincoln.

At welterweight, southpaw Wiseman Kavondo is out to reclaim his throne, though he must navigate stiff resistance from KDF’s Fred Omondi, Kisumu’s Joshua Onyango, and Prisons’ Francis Riziki.

While Police welcome back key stars, they will miss Kenya’s top light-middleweight, Boniface “The Hammer” Mogunde, who is away on family commitments. Stepping into his shoes is veteran Joseph “Shigs” Shigali, also known as Msee wa Ndechu. Shigali is spoiling for revenge against KDF’s omena-charged Alvin “Liwaloliwe” Oduor. Oduor beat Shigali in the Vihiga finals in a fierce Eastlands mtaa derby pitting Mbotela against Jericho—two Nairobi estates famous for their 1970s street rivalries—and Shigali has vowed to silence Oduor in Kisumu.

In the middleweight berth, Police have named WB Africa bronze medallist Steve Onyango, who recently helped Kenya clinch the overall WB African Championships title (five gold, three silver, six bronze). He is set for a tough clash against KDF’s African Games champion, Edwin Okong’o.

In the lower weights, Wasao has brought back minimumweight Sylus Onyango, who is eager to avenge his first-leg upset defeat to Nakuru’s Joseph Moses. Kasarani Youth’s Morris Kimani and KDF’s Ali Mohammed are also in the mix, though Nairobi’s Clinton “Canelo” Omondi of Kibra Youth misses out due to weight issues.

The flyweight division is set for another explosive chapter. Police have stuck with third-leg winner Abdullah Juma, who scored a controversial upset victory over KDF’s reigning WB Africa champion and self-proclaimed division “landlord,” Kelvin “Young” Maina. KDF officials still insist Maina was robbed in Vihiga, setting the stage for a tense rematch. Also looking to steal the show at flyweight are Prisons’ Moses Kilavuka, Sombea’s Isaac Karanja, and Kibra Youth southpaw Douglas Omondi, who arrives on the back of an impressive international debut in Russia this year.

▪️Nine boxers sent packing, bringing to 25 the total number of African pugilists eliminated in the Youth Olympics

▪️Sub-Saharan wipeout leaves North African trio, Algerians Bothaina Bensalah and Cerine Kessal alongside Egypt’s Menatallah Ibrahim as the only ones remaining in the boxing competition

November 11, 2026

Africa’s bruising campaign at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games suffered another heavy blow on Tuesday, November 10, as nine more fighters crashed out during the second session of the quarter-finals, reports boxersworld.co.ke.

Out of 11 African boxers who stepped into the ring, only two survived the bloodbath. The latest wave of defeats pushes the continent’s elimination tally to a staggering 25 boxers, leaving just three fighters standing ahead of today’s semi-finals.

Egypt’s lightweight Menatalla Ibrahim delivered the knockout punch of the day, stopping China’s Jiaen Wang at 1:13 of the second round.

Algeria’s minimumweight Bothaina Bensalah served up a cold dish of revenge, outpointing Nigeria’s Mayowa Ayomide 5-0. The dominant unanimous decision avenged Bensalah’s painful loss to Ayomide in the 2025 African Youth Games final in Luanda, Angola.

Bensalah and Ibrahim now join flyweight Cerine Kessal (Algeria) to form a strictly North African trio carrying the entire continent’s medal hopes into Wednesday’s semi-finals, after boxers from Sub-Saharan Africa were completely wiped out of the tournament.

Today’s Semi-Final Showdown (November 11):

• Minimumweight: Bothaina Bensalah (Algeria) vs. Michela Guglielmon (Italy)

• Lightweight: Menatalla Ibrahim (Egypt) vs. Rushabonu Idea (Uzbekistan)

• Flyweight: Cerine Kessal (Algeria) vs. Grenyelis Garcia (Venezuela)

boxersworld.co.ke

▪️Sixteen African boxers have so far been eliminated, 12 are still on the battlefield with 11 featuring in today’s quarter-finals while one is in the semi-finals

November 10, 2026

Algeria’s female flyweight Cerine Kessal delivered a vital lifeline for African boxing on Monday, November 9, 2026, guaranteeing the continent its first medal of the Dakar Youth Olympics by fighting her way to the semi-finals.
Her triumph, however, proved to be the lone bright spot on a bruising day for the host continent.

Seven other African boxers—including host nation Senegal’s final remaining hopeful Khadidiatou Boiro—were eliminated during the opening round of quarter-finals.

Kessal made quick work of Bhupal’s Sangay Peldon, forcing a referee stoppage at 1:28 of the second round. With a podium finish now assured regardless of her next result, the Algerian advances to a difficult semi-final clash against Venezuela’s Grenyelis Garcia—a formidable test that could prove to be her toughest hurdle yet.

Garcia, tipped by boxing analysts as one of the hot prospects for gold, booked her spot in the final four with a dominant display against Kenya’s Ellah Demesi, securing a first-round stoppage in 2:02.

Capitalizing on her superior reach, the South American Youth Games champion overwhelmed Demesi with a relentless barrage of head shots. After the Kenyan took three standing counts without mounting an effective response, the referee stepped in to wave off the bout.

While Demesi, who celebrated her 17th birthday on September 29 this year, struggled to find her spark on the day, the bout offers her valuable experience as she looks to improve for future international tournaments but at the big stage she has to be fast, aggressive, increase her work rate, show more fire and an appetite for victory. Otherwise she’s a talented boxer with a bright future.

Botswana’s Precious Masaba stepped into the ring looking to avenge Demesi’s earlier loss to Canada’s Mehreen Khakh at the World U-19 Futures Cup in Bangkok. Masaba started strong, taking the fight to the Canadian southpaw in an aggressive opening round. However, the momentum shifted dramatically in the second. Khakh took control of the exchanges, repeatedly catching Masaba with a sharp left cross that resulted in three counts and another referee stoppage, compounding Africa’s rough outing.

For host nation Senegal, the disappointment continued. With two boxers already eliminated earlier in the tournament, local hopes rested squarely on the shoulders of female featherweight Khadidiatou Boiro. Entering the ring determined to turn the tide for the hosts, Boiro ultimately suffered a similar fate, bowing out in the quarter-finals to bring Senegal’s home boxing campaign to an early close. She lost 5-0 to Kazakhstan’s Aknur Tursyngali.

While the females chalked up one victory, all the three African male boxers in the quarters were bundled out.

Libya’s bantamweight Emran Bawi was the first victim going down to Australia’s Marley Dodd, Gambia’s bantamweight Alieu Sanyang lost 5-0 to Canada’s Lisandro Garcia and welterweight Fahd Wazir was stopped in 2:59 of the second round.

Meanwhile, 11 African boxers take to the ring in today’s quarter-finals, one of the highlights being women’s minimumweight rematch between Nigeria’s African Youth Games champion Mayowa Ayomide and Algeria’s Bouthaina Bensalah. The Algerian is seeking to avenge a points loss to Mayowa in the finals of the African Youth Games in 2025 in Luanda, Angola.

The quarter-finals pairings involving the African boxers:

Men

Flyweight
Namibia’s Kalenga Abraham vs India’s Ambekar Lairen

Lightweight
Togo’s Blaise Agoda vs Thailand’s Siwa Chainarong

Mauritius’ Julian Agathe vs Puerto Rico’s Torres Santiago

Seychelles’ Franco Zialor vs China’s Zhengkun Zhang

Light-middleweight
Ghana’s Amartey Tagoe vs UAE’s Mohamed Moaaz

Egypt’s Ahmed Mobarak vs Great Britain’s Michael Maughan

Women

Minimumweight
Nigeria’s Mayowa Ayomide vs Algeria’s Bothaina Bensalah

Bantamweight
Morocco’s Manar Adnane vs Japan’s Yura Kanemaru

Egypt’s Hajer Elsherbiny Wahba vs Maral Tolepbergen

Lightweight
Egypt’s Menatalla Ibrahim vs China’s Jiaen Wang

boxersworld.co.ke

▪️“Ellah gave her all. The opponent was taller and more experienced, but this is part of the learning process. She has gained a lot from this competition, and we believe she will use the experience to improve,” said national team deputy head coach David Munuhe

November 10, 2026

Team Kenya boxer Ellah Demesi’s campaign at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games came to an end on Monday after she was defeated by Venezuela’s Grenyelis Garcia in the women’s 51kg quarter-finals.

Demesi, who received a bye in the opening round, faced Garcia in her first bout of the competition. The Venezuelan had already competed in the round of 16, where she secured a 5-0 victory over New Zealand’s Lea Newman, before advancing to the quarter-finals.

Despite the challenge of facing a taller and more experienced opponent, the Kenyan teenager gave a determined performance in her first appearance in the Olympic ring.

Kenya’s national deputy head coach David Munuhe said Demesi had done her best against a more experienced boxer, adding that the experience would be valuable as she continues developing her career.

“Ellah gave her all. The opponent was taller and more experienced, but this is part of the learning process. She has gained a lot from this competition, and we believe she will use the experience to improve,” said Munuhe.

The coach described participation at the Youth Olympic Games as an important milestone for the young boxer, noting that reaching the Olympic stage was an achievement in itself. Demesi’s appearance in Dakar marks her third outing with the national team. She previously represented Kenya at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola, in 2025, before competing at the World Boxing U19 Futures Cup in Bangkok, Thailand, in March 2026.

The Bangkok competition also served as a qualification pathway to the Dakar Games. The 17-year-old made history by becoming the first Kenyan boxer to qualify for the Youth Olympic Games.

Her journey in boxing began in 2024 at Kibra Youth Boxing Club. She initially accompanied her younger brother to the club, but soon developed an interest in the sport and began training herself. She is a Grade 10 student at Shadrack Kimalel School.

Munuhe said the experience gained in Dakar would provide motivation for Demesi and other young boxers as they prepare for future international competitions.

Although her campaign has ended, Demesi’s participation marks an important step for Kenyan women’s boxing, offering valuable exposure at a major international youth competition and an inspiration to upcoming female boxers.

From Gladys Midecha in Dakar(photos by David Kabiru)

▪️Only two boxers out of the eight in action qualified for the quarter-finals

▪️Today eight African boxers – five women and three men – enter the ring for the first quarter-finals among them Kenya’s Ellah Demesi, Senegal’s last bullet Khadidiatou Boiro and Botswana’s Precious Masaba.

▪️Nigeria’s African Youth Games female 48kg champion Mayowa Ayomide vs Algeria’s Bouthaina Bensalah in a tight rematch in November 10 quarters. Mayowa beat Bouthania in the 2025 African Youth Games finals in Angola.

November 9, 2026

A brutal “tornado” tore through the ring on a disastrous Sunday at the Dakar Youth Olympics, wiping out six of Africa’s eight boxing contenders in the Round of 16—including host nation Senegal’s two main medal hopes on November 8, 2026.

Only Algeria’s African Youth Games silver medallist Bouthaina Bensalah and Mauritius’ Julian Agathe survived the carnage to punch their way to the quarter-finals, salvaging a miserable day for the continent.

In the women’s minimumweight (48kg) division, Bouthaina Bensalah delivered a dominant 5-0 shutout against Thailand’s Pemika Kayungkasem, setting up an all-African quarter-final clash on November 10 against Nigeria’s Mayowa Ayomide who defeated the Algerian in the finals of the 2025 African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola. Men’s lightweight Agathe cruised to a unanimous 5-0 points victory over Fiji’s Norman Amram. He now faces Puerto Rico’s Torres Santiago on Tuesday, November 10 in the last eight bouts.

Elsewhere, the African contingent collapsed under relentless international pressure:

Double heartbreak for the hosts: Senegal’s medal dreams took a devastating hit. Women’s lightweight Soda Faye, a silver medallist at the 2025 African Youth Games in Angola, was overwhelmed and stopped in just 1:30 into the opening round by Slovakia’s Karolina Koralova, while men’s flyweight Cheikh Faye dropped a 5-0 unanimous decision to India’s Ambekar Lairenlakpam.

Early exits: Morocco’s minimumweight Meryem Boukraa kicked off the dismal run with a 3-0 loss to Italy’s Michela Guglielmon.

First-round stoppages: Equatorial Guinea’s lightweight Andeke Essau and Somalia’s flyweight Hassan Mohamed suffered identical fates, both stopped at the 2:59 mark of the first round by Turkey’s Ali Mohamed and Romania’s Madalin Calugar, respectively.

Late stoppage: Algeria’s Meriem Sari battled into the final frame of her women’s lightweight bout before being sent packing at 1:25 of the third round by China’s Jiaen Wang.

Enter the first quarter-finals today, November 9. Eight African boxers – three men and five women – are fighting in action.

Kenyans are keen to see how fast rising southpaw Ellah Demesi, their most impressive performer at the World U19 Futures Cup in Bangkok in March this year, performs against Venezuela’s Grenyelis Garcia who together with compatriot bantamweight Yeniree Castillo have made history by becoming the first women boxers to represent their country in the Youth Olympics.

Demesi made her international debut at the 2025 African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola, losing in the quarters to Tunisia’s Ouslatim Tashmin in the flyweight division.

Demesi’s next major event was in the World Under-19 Futures Cup in Bangkok, Thailand. She lost her opening bout to Canada’s Mehreen Khakh who meets Botswana’s Precious Masaba in today’s quarter-finals.

The last eight pairings involving the African boxers:

Men

Bantamweight

Libya’s Emran Bawin vs Australia’s Marley Dodd

Gambia’s Alieu Sanyong vs Canada’s Lisandro Garcia

Welterweight

Egypt’s Fahd Wazir vs Armenia’s Suren Katvalyan

Women

Flyweight

Algeria’s Cerine Kessal vs Bhupal’s Sangay Peldon

Kenya’s Ellah Demesi vs Venezuela’s Grenyelis Garcia

Botswana’s Precious Masaba vs Canada’s Mehreen Khakh

Featherweight

Senegal’s Khadidiatou vs Kazakhstan’s Aknur Tursyngali

Algeria’s Besma Bahri vs Ukraine’s Yevanhelina Petruk

With nine African boxers – out of the 27 entered – eliminated including three on the first day, Africa’s medal hopes have suffered a severe jolt but all is not lost with eight of them in action today on the first day of the quarter-finals. We hope lady luck smiles on the African boxers as we wish them the best of luck.

▪️Luyoyo has assured medal winners in the Africa Elite Championships they will be paid their prize money

November 8, 2025

KINSHASA, DR Congo — When cash-strapped sports ministries across the continent threatened to leave dozens of Africa’s finest pugilists stranded on the sidelines, International Boxing Association (IBA) Africa President General Ilunga Luyoyo stepped into the ring with his chequebook to deliver a knockout blow to financial barriers.

In an unprecedented display of leadership and passion for the sweet science, Luyoyo single-handedly bankrolled flight tickets and full accommodation for boxers and officials from 17 nations—while also covering 50 percent of officials’ per diems—enabling them to compete at the Africa Elite Boxing Championships in Kinshasa.

Thanks to Luyoyo’s timely intervention, the Kinshasa spectacle shattered a 64-year-old record, drawing an all-time high of 171 boxers from 28 countries—the largest turnout since the continental tournament’s inception in 1962.

The 17 nations rescued by Luyoyo’s generosity included:

• Southern Africa: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, and Mozambique

• East & Central Africa: Uganda, Burundi, Congo, and Chad

• West & North Africa: Ghana, Sierra Leone, Niger, Guinea-Bissau, and Libya

Without Luyoyo’s lifeline, teams from these 17 countries would have missed out on the continent’s premier boxing showcase after their respective governments failed to fund their trips.

Speaking exclusively to boxersworld.co.ke in Kinshasa, Luyoyo made it clear that African boxing must take charge of its own destiny rather than waiting for outside handouts.

“African boxing will only succeed if we all chip in instead of expecting foreign sports bodies to do everything for us,” Luyoyo declared. “That’s why I supported the 17 countries to expose our boxers.”

And the boxing boss isn’t stopping there. Luyoyo revealed bold plans to put real money into fighters’ pockets starting next year.

“I have big plans for African boxing, among them introducing a new tournament next year where boxers will be paid,” he said.

Senior IBA Africa official and close Luyoyo confidant Andre Basile Kalong hailed the president’s massive financial sacrifice as unmatched in the history of the sport on the continent.

“Luyoyo paid 50 percent per diems and offered free accommodation for officials, alongside flight tickets and free accommodation for 17 countries,” Kalong noted.

“This is total commitment. No other boxing leader in Africa has genuinely dedicated himself to the development of boxing like our President has done,” said Kalong.

With record-breaking participation and a visionary leader willing to put his money where his mouth is, African boxing has officially entered a bold new era.

Meanwhile Luyoyo has assured medal winners in the Africa Elite Championships they will be paid their prize money.

“I’m finalising a few pertinent issues with the IBA, and then they will wire the money to the bank accounts of the boxers,” said Luyoyo making it clear it’s the IBA responsible for paying the prize money.

boxersworld.co.ke

▪️Kenya’s flyweight sensation Ellah Demesi to battle Venezuela’s Grenyelis Garcia in the quarterfinals

▪️Africa’s female fighters led the charge, accounting for three of the four victories at the Dakar Expo Centre

November 8, 2026

Four African boxers punched their way into the quarterfinals on the opening day of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games boxing tournament on Saturday, November 7.

However, it was a day of mixed fortunes for the continent, as three other African hopefuls suffered early exits after losing their preliminary bouts.

And Kenya’s talented flyweight southpaw Ellah Demesi will take on Venezuela’s Grenyelis Garcia in the November 9 quarterfinals following the latter’s 5-0 points win over New Zealand’s Leo Newman.

Africa’s female fighters led the charge on the opening day, accounting for three of the four victories at the Dakar Expo Centre:

• Cerine Kessal (Algeria –Women’s Flyweight): Kessal cruised past Australia’s Maia Laird to set up a quarterfinal clash against Bhutan’s Sangay Peldon.

• Besma Bahri (Algeria –Women’s Featherweight): Joining her compatriot in the last eight, Bahri delivered a dominant 5–0 unanimous decision over Chinese Taipei’s Lin Yu-Jun. She will next face Ukraine’s Yevahhelina Petruk.

• Precious Masaba (Botswana – Women’s Flyweight): Masaba put on a clinical display to outpoint Jordan’s Tala Hussein. She advances to meet Canada’s Mehreen Khakh in the quarterfinals on Monday, November 9.

• Emil Ismailov (Equatorial Guinea –Men’s Bantamweight): Standing as the lone African male winner on Day One, Ismailov defeated the Dominican Republic’s Michael Reyes and will take on Lebanon’s Ramzi Hilali in the next round.

All three of Africa’s Day One eliminations came in the men’s division:

• Denzel Namaseevayen (Mauritius – Men’s Bantamweight): Bowed out following a loss to Australia’s Marley Dodd.

• Algeria’s Bilal Lezoul (Men’s Welterweight): Suffered a 5–0 defeat against Japan’s Kenshin Sakuno.

• Jihad Mohamed (Libya)-Men’s Light-Middleweight):* Eliminated after falling to Kazakhstan’s Bibarys Ashirbay.

boxersworld.co.ke

• ▪️Kenya’s sensational southpaw Ellah Demesi is brimming with confidence

November 7, 2026

Fourteen African boxers—headlined by Kenyan sensation Ellah Demesi—have bypassed the opening rounds to land straight in the quarter-finals of the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal.

Following Thursday’s official draw, eight male and six female pugilists from the continent earned coveted byes ahead of today’s tournament opener on November 7, 2026.

• Kenya’s Ellah Demesi: Fresh off a standout campaign as Kenya’s top performer at the World U19 Championships in Bangkok, the flyweight star will face the winner of the pre-quarter clash between New Zealand’s Lea Newman and Venezuela’s Grenyelis Garcia.

• Nigeria’s Shukurat Mayowa: Also advancing directly to the last eight, the female minimumweight contender awaits the victor of a gritty bout between Thailand’s Pemika Payungkasem and Algeria’s Bouthania Bensalah.

As Africa hosts the Youth Olympic Games for the first time in history, 27 boxers from across the continent (14 men and 13 women) are vying for podium glory on home soil.

Action starts in earnest today, with seven African fighters stepping into the ring for the opening session.

Commenting on the draw, Demesi told boxersworld.co.ke she’s happy to be in the quarter-finals and ready for any opponent.

“I’m here to win a medal for my country I don’t care whom I’ll meet, she should just prepare for a tough fight,” said Demesi in a telephone interview.

She’s happy with life in the Games Village.

“I can’t complain though they don’t have my favourite food pilau, I’m eating mostly rice and potatoes.”

Coach David Munuhe is delighted Demesi is already in the quarters.

“The bye is very welcome, it’s to our advantage, she’s confident of bringing home a medal,” Munuhe told boxersworld.co.ke.

▪️Their appearance will carry added significance as Dakar 2026 becomes the first Olympic sporting event to be held on African soil, giving Senegal’s young athletes the opportunity to compete on the Youth Olympic stage in front of a home crowd.

November 4, 2026

Soda Faye, Mame Cheikh Ibrahima Fall Faye and Khadidiatou Boiro will represent host nation Senegal when the boxing competition at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games begins on 7 November.

The three young boxers will compete in the men’s 50kg, women’s 57kg and women’s 60kg categories at the Dakar Expo Centre, where 116 athletes from 77 countries will contest ten titles across five men’s and five women’s divisions.

Their appearance will carry added significance as Dakar 2026 becomes the first Olympic sporting event to be held on African soil, giving Senegal’s young athletes the opportunity to compete on the Youth Olympic stage in front of a home crowd.

Soda Faye will compete in the women’s 57kg category after building valuable international experience over the past year.

Despite having only two to three years of experience in the sport, Faye attracted attention through an unbeaten run in national galas and development competitions before making her mark internationally.

She earned a silver medal at the African Youth Games in Angola in December 2025 and later reached the quarter-finals of the World Boxing Futures Cup in Bangkok, Thailand, in March 2026.

Mame Cheikh Ibrahima Fall Faye will represent Senegal in the men’s 50kg division. Like Soda, he has been boxing for approximately two to three years and established himself through a series of strong performances at national level.

He also competed at the World Boxing Futures Cup, reaching the quarter-finals in Bangkok. His performances were praised by the Senegalese team for the courage, determination and composure he displayed against international opposition.

Senegal’s third representative, Khadidiatou Boiro, will bring a broader combat-sport background to the women’s 60kg competition.

Boiro began her sporting career in 2020 through Chinese boxing and hapkido. She became a two-time Senegalese champion in Chinese boxing and a three-time national champion in hapkido, in which she holds a black belt. She also collected several gold medals in interclub competitions.

After taking up Olympic-style boxing in 2025, Boiro continued her domestic success and has remained unbeaten across championships, interclub competitions and other national events. Her rapid progress has been driven by the strength of character and desire to improve that have defined her sporting journey.

Guiding the three athletes is Senegal youth team head coach Ibrahima Wade, whose own involvement in boxing began at an early age.

Wade progressed through the national age-group system before becoming a multiple Senegalese champion and earning selection for the national team. He represented his country at Zone 2 tournaments, African Championships and several other international competitions.

After moving into coaching, Wade opened a boxing gym named in honour of his late mentor, Antoine Marie Mbengue. He has since devoted himself to grassroots and youth development, helping to prepare a new generation of Senegalese boxers.

A state-certified Level 1 coach, Wade has undertaken further coaching courses in France and China. He was subsequently appointed head coach of Senegal’s Olympic youth team in preparation for Dakar 2026.

Under his leadership, the team competed at the African School Games in Algeria and the African Youth Games in Angola in 2025 before travelling to Bangkok for the World Boxing Futures Cup in March 2026.

The final phase of the team’s preparation included an advanced training camp in China from 21 August to 14 September, attended by Wade and eight members of Senegal’s Olympic youth boxing programme.

For Soda Faye, Mame Cheikh Ibrahima Fall Faye and Khadidiatou Boiro, those years of preparation will culminate with the opportunity to represent their country at a home Youth Olympic Games.

Boxing at Dakar 2026 will take place from 7–12 November, with two sessions scheduled each day.

Courtesy World Boxing