South Africa’s top karateka Morgan Moss was among the big winners of the 2017 edition of the African Karate Championships being held this past week in Cameroon. The event crowned the new kings and queens of African Karate and set the spotlight on some of the rising figures in the continent. 

South Africa’s top karateka Morgan Moss was among the big winners of the 2017 edition of the African Karate Championships being held this past week in Cameroon. The event crowned the new kings and queens of African Karate and set the spotlight on some of the rising countries in the continent. 

After three days of competition, Tunisia took the first position in the final standings following a tally of 19 medals and seven golds. Egypt with eight medals and hosts of Cameroon with an impressive count of 24 medals also topped the medal table. Nearly 200 competitors from 20 countries participated at the event. 

2016 Grand Winner Morgan Moss of South Africa became one of the stars of the competition after winning gold in Male Kumite +84kg. The 30 year-old karateka defeated Ahmed Marouane Ezzar of Tunisia in the final and won his second medal in the competition after his bronze in 2014. 

Among the top karatekas from Tunisia who became new continental champions, Ella Jemai prevailed in Female Kumite -50kg, Boutheina Hasnaoui won gold in Female Kumite -61 kg, Faten Aissa dominated in Female Kumite -68 kg and Nader Azzouzi in Male Kumite -60kg, in addition of two more golds in under-age categories and in Female Team Kumite. 

Hosts of Cameroon also had reasons to celebrate since they saw the flag of the organising country on top of the podium four times. Stella Ogandoa Nsioma in Female Kumite 68+ kg, Innocent Yves Andegue Mbia in Male Kumite -75 kg and Etienne Martial Nonagni Bayomog in Male Kumite 84+ kg together with one more gold in under-age categories were the heroes of the local delegation. 

The list of winners in senior categories of the 2017 UFAK Championships is completed with Manal Kamilia Hadj Said of Algeria in Female Kata, Mylene Oceanne Ganiero of Benin in Female Kumite -55kg, Ofentse Bakwadi of Botswana in Male Kata and Nardy Bikoka Mbako of Congo in Male Kumite -67 kg. 

No less than twelve countries took home medals at the 16th edition of the continental championships which was held in the city of Yaounde in Cameroon. 

Click here to go to all results of the 2017 UFAK Championships.