▪️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.
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