WKF Vice President Mohamed Tahar Mesbahi has been re-elected as the President of the African Karate Federation (UFAK).

The union of African National Federations celebrated its Elective Congress Thursday to designate the head and new Executive Committee of the African organisation.

The UFAK plenary session decided to appoint Mohamed Tahar Mesbahi to continue leading the Continental Federation for a new term. UFAK President since 2007, Algeria’s Mohamed Tahar Mesbahi was a national Karate champion for over ten years before moving to coaching and managing positions.

Head of the Algerian Karate Federation from 2000 to 2009, Mohamed Tahar Mesbahi was elected as UFAK President in 2007. He also acts as 2^nd Vice-President of the Association of African Sports Confederations since 2015.  

Moreover, the UFAK Congress designated the new Executive Committee which is now formed by:

President: Mohamed Tahar Mesbahi (ALG)

1^st Vice-President: Bechir Cherif (TUN)

2^nd Vice-President and Treasurer: Souleymane Gaye (SEN)

3^rd Vice-President: Syed Nasr (EGY)

4^th Vice-President: Sonny Pillay (RSA)

General Secretary: Madani Ba (MLI)

No less than 17 African countries participated in UFAK Elective Congress.

Held in Cairo (Egypt) on the eve of the UFAK Karate Championships, the Elective Congress was attended by WKF President Antonio Espinós. The leader of Karate’s international governing body travelled to Egypt to participate in the UFAK events and to attest to the progress of the sport in the continent.

WKF President Antonio Espinós said:

“With Mohamed Tahar Mesbahi again at the helms, I am convinced that the UFAK will continue its tremendous development. On behalf of the whole Karate family, I want to congratulate him and the newly appointed Executive Committee for their elections today.

“Karate is one of the fastest-growing sports in Africa and I am sure that with the cooperation of all the National Federations represented here today and with the unity of all the UFAK stakeholders, our sport will play a crucial role in African society even more”.   

(Top picture: WKF President Antonio Espinós (centre) headed UFAK’s Elective Congress in Cairo)

From left to right: UFAK 3^rd Vice President Syed Nasr, UFAK Region West 2 President Yugo Oumarou, UFAK 2^nd Vice President and Treasurer Souleymane Gaye, UFAK President and WKF Vice President Mohamed Tahar Mesbahi, UFAK 1^st Vice President and UFAK Regions Coordinator Bechir Cherif, UFAK General Secretary Madani Ba, and UFAK Region West 1 President Sekou Cheik Conde.