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African Olympic round-up (19.08.2004)
Wednesday 18 August
Wednesday night was a miserable one for African sides in the men`s Olympic football tournament.
Ghana were beaten 1-0 by Japan and went out of the competition because they finished third in Group B. The Black Meteors exited because they had scored one goal less than Italy, with whom they finished level on four points and goal difference in Group B. Had Ghana found an equaliser against Japan - or Paraguay scored more than the one in their 1-0 victory over Italy - the Black Meteors would still be in the competition.
In Group D, Morocco found themselves going out in similar fashion, finishing behind second-placed Costa Rica on goals scored.
Despite beating eventual group winners Iraq 2-1, thanks to goals from Bouabid Bouden and Salaheddine Aqqal, the north Africans were denied a place in the quarter-finals by an injury time strike for Costa Rica against Portugal. The goal, which gave the Central Americans a 4-2 win, meant they finished level on points and goal difference with Morocco, but ahead on goals scored.
Africa has won its fourth medal of the Olympics - and once again it came in the swimming pool. In the men`s 100 metre freestyle final, South Africa`s Roland Schoeman took silver behind Holland`s Pieter vanden Hoogenbrand, but ahead of Australia`s Ian Thorpe. Skoeman`s medal is his second of the championship following his gold in South Africa`s 4 by 100 metre freestyle relay victory on Sunday.
Yet it was a less productive day for South Africa`s women`s hockey team whose 3-0 loss to South Korea means they cannot advance from Group A. The defeat is their third in as many games.
Moroccan female weightlifter Wafa Ammouri has been sent home from the Olympics after failing a drugs test. The 19-year-old, who was due to compete in the 63 kilogram division on Wednesday, is the second African to be sent home after Kenyan boxer David Munyasia tested positive for a banned substance last week.
Better news for Africa however is that Ethiopian runner Haile Gebrselassie has said he will compete in the 10,000 metres despite injury. The legendary Ethiopian, who is bidding for an unprecedented third 10,000 metres title in a row, has an Achilles tendon problem in his left leg but still intends to run in Friday`s final.
Kenya`s women volleyballers lost their third Pool A match, when beaten by three sets to love by South Korea. The defeat is the Kenyans` third in as many games, but captain Violent Baraza told the BBC she will be going all out for victory in her team`s final two games - against Italy and then Japan.
Turning to basketball, and Nigeria`s women lost to their Greek hosts 83-68 in Group A - the Nigerians` third defeat in as many games.
In the boxing ring, Nigerian heavyweight Emmanuel Izonritei is out, having been beaten by Naser Al Shami of Syria in the second round.
In the light-flyweight division, although Ethiopia`s Endalkachew Kebede made it through to the second round, Nigeria`s Effiong Okon, Morocco`s Redouane Bouchtouk and Uganda`s Jolly Katongole all lost in the first round.
Tuesday 17 August
Zimbabwean swimmer Kirsty Coventry took her medal tally to two - and Africa`s to three - as she won bronze in the women`s 200 metre medley. The race was won by Yana Klochkova of the Ukraine, who fended off American Amanda Beard to finish third with the 19-year-old Zimbabwean setting an African record in a time of two minutes 12.72 seconds.
A big upset came in the first semi-final of the men`s 100 metre freestyle, which was won by Algeria`s Salim Iles, ahead of Australia`s Ian Thorpe and reigning Olympic champion Alexander Popov. Joining Iles in Wednesday`s final are South African duo Roland Schoeman and Ryk Neethling, two of the only Africans to have won an Olympic gold medal at the Games so far following the South Africans` stunning victory in the 4 by 100 metre freestyle on Sunday.
In the men`s football tournament, Mali have reached the Olympic quarter-finals at their first attempt. They drew 3-3 with South Korea in their final Group A game, although they surrendered a three-goal lead given to them by a hat-trick from Tenema Ndiaye. The West Africans could meet Ghana in the last eight as they play the Group B runners-up - which will be either the Black Meteors, Italy or Paraguay. Ghana play Japan on Wednesday.
However, Tunisia are out of the competition. Although they beat Serbia and Montenegro 3-2, they only finished third in Group C, behind Australia on goal difference. And Morocco must beat Group D leaders Iraq on Wednesday if they are not to go the same way as their fellow north Africans.
In the women`s event, Nigeria will face Germany in Friday`s quarter-final, despite losing 2-1 to Sweden in their final group E game last night. Mercy Akide gave the Super Falcons a first-half lead, but Sweden struck twice in the second half to stay in the competition.
Two Zimbabweans hoping to follow Kirsty Coventry`s lead are the tennis pair Wayne Black and Kevin Ulyett, who reached the quarter-finals when beating Andre Sa and Flavio Saretta of Brazil. The Zimbabwean duo take on India`s Mahesh Bhupathi and Leander Paes on Wednesday.
Wayne`s sister Cara went out of the women`s singles in the second round, losing to America`s Chanda Rubin.
Some of the first Africans in action on Tuesday were Angola`s men`s basketballers, but the African champions lost 83-59 to Australia - their second defeat in as many games in Group B.
Another team struggling to find their form are Tunisia`s male volleyballers who were beaten by Argentina by three sets to two - their second loss in Pool A.
In field hockey, South Africa were beaten 4-2 by India in Group B while Pakistan thrashed Egypt 7-0 in Group A.
In the water polo, Egypt, who have yet to win a team match in Athens, were thrashed 13-3 by Germany in Group B, their second defeat in as many games.
In the boxing ring, Africa`s terrible performance on Monday saw some improvement on Tuesday. Botwsana`s Lechedzani Luza is out of the flyweight competition, but lost to Morocco`s Hicham Mesbahi, one of the few African boxers to make it through the first round so far. In the same division, Algeria`s Mebarek Soltani lost to Russia`s Georgy Balakshin but Soltani`s compatriot Malik Bouziane made it through with the bantamweight beating France`s Ali Hallab.
In fencing, Senegal`s Nafi Toure is out of the individual sabre competition after losing her second round clash against Romania`s Catalina Gheorghitoaia.
And in weightlifting, Nigeria`s Enga Mohamed could only finish seventh in the women`s under 48 kilogram final.
Monday 16 August
The highlight of the day for Africa was another swimming medal - this time from Zimbabwe`s Kirsty Coventry as she claimed a silver medal in the 100 metres backstroke. She also set a new African record of one minute 0.50 seconds as she finished behind the USA`s Natalie Coughlin. Minutes later, Coventry qualified for the final of the 200m individual medley.
South Africa`s female hockey team lost its second round match when suffering a decisive 3-0 defeat at the hands of Australia. The South Africans were unable to capitalise on the many scoring chances they created, failing to score from nine penalty corners, and so suffered their second defeat of their campaign, after losing to Holland on Saturday.
Another African women`s team going down 3-0 were Kenya`s volleyballers. The Kenyans were playing Brazil in their second game in Pool A, and it`s now two defeats in two for the East Africans, who lost to Greece in their opening game on Saturday. Next up are South Korea on Wednesday.
In boxing, South Africa`s Bongani Wonderboy Mahlangu failed to live up to his nickname as the lightweight was beaten in his first round bout. The South African was outpointed 22-14 by his opponent
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fromAzerbaijan, Rovshan Huseynov.
On a bad day for Africa, more defeats came in tennis where Lamine Ouahab of Algeria lost in straight sets to Tommy Robredo of Spain in the first round. And after Morocco`s Younes El Aynaoui lost to Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia, Africa no longer has any involvement in the men`s singles. El Aynaoui`s compatrot Hicham Arazi lost on Sunday.
In the men`s beach volleyball competition, South African duo Gershon Rorich and Colin Pocock lost their second Group F fixture. The South Africans were playing Argentina`s Mariano Baracetto and Martin Conde, but lost in straight sets. Yet they did win their first tie and must now beat opponents from Portugal on Wednesday in their final group game.
Although two African judo practitioners reached the quarter-finals in the men`s lightweight division, that was as far as they got. Algeria`s Nouredinne Yagoubi was beaten by Gennadiy Bilodid of the Ukraine, while Mongolia`s Damdin Suldbayar of Mongolia accounted for Cameroon`s Bernard Sylvain Mvondo.
Sunday 15 August
The South African swimming quartet of Ryk Neethling, Roland Schoeman, Darian Townsend and Lyndon Ferns won Africa`s first gold medal, and only medal so far, of the Athens Olympics.
The team won the 400-meter freestyle relay in stunning fashion, setting a world-record time of three minutes 13.17 seconds in the process.
Despite having Michael Phelps in their side, America finished third, only the second time they have ever lost an Olympic 400 free relay.
Ghana`s footballers improved their chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals as they came from behind to beat Paraguay in Group B.
Trailing 1-0 with nine minutes left, goals from William Tiero and Stephen Appiah took the Black Meteors second in their group behind Italy on goals scored.
In Group D, Morocco lost 2-1 to Portugal and must now beat group leaders Iraq on Wednesday to have any chance of qualifying.
In volleyball, Tunisia`s men were beaten 3-0 by hosts Greece in front of a loud crowd of 8,200 at the 14,000-seat Peace and Friendship Stadium - the largest attendance in the tournament so far.
Egypt`s water polo players also had a disappointing day, being thrashed 14-3 by Australia.
In handball, Angola`s women went close to upsetting Spain, but Montserrat Puche tied it for the Spaniards at 24-24 with just seconds remaining.
There were mixed fortunes for Africa`s two entrants in the men`s field hockey, as South Africa defeated Argentina 2-1 while Egypt were beaten 3-1 by Great Britain.
And in basketball, African champions Angola lost 78-73 to Lithuania, who have been bronze medallists at the last three Olympics.
Saturday 14 August
Kenya filed an appeal to Court of Abitration in Sport on Saturday against the expulsion from the Athens Olympics of boxer David Munyasia.
The bantamweight was barred by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) on Tuesday after testing positive for the banned stimulant cathine in an out-of-competition screening in the Olympic village.
IOC officials said cathine is a common drug in east Africa and is found in khat, a leaf that is chewed for its amphetamine-like high.
Having returned home on Friday, the boxer denied he had taken anything improper.
"I am clean. I have never taken qat or any drug. I believe there was a mistake somewhere," Munyasia told reporters after arriving in Nairobi.
He added: "I am asking Kenyans to forgive me and I promise to bring them the gold in 2008."
Munyasia said he remembered only drinking coffee and a Red Bull energy drink prior to being tested and taking an antibiotic to clear up a boil.
His was the first positive case among more then 200 dope tests carried out on athletes arriving in Athens since late last month.
The Olympic bantamweight competition begins on Tuesday.
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Saturday`s results from Athens:
Badminton mixed doubles first round
Tsai Chia-Hsin/Cheng Wen-Hsing (Taiwan) beat Chris Dednam/Antoinette Uys (South Africa) 15-3 15-9
Women`s singles first round: Aparna Popat (India) beat Michelle Edwards (South Africa) 11-6 11-3
Handball
Group B: Egypt 28-33 Hungary
Volleyball (women)
Pool A: Kenya 0-3 Greece (7-25, 22-25, 14-25)
Basketball (women)
Group A: Nigeria 73-85 Australia
Boxing (first round bouts)
Light-heavyweight (81kg): Abdelhani Kenzi (Algeria) beat Song Hak-sung (South Korea) points 25-19
Utkirbek Haydarov (Uzbekistan) beat Isaac Ekpo (Nigeria) points 21-11
Ahmed Ismail (Egypt) beat Shohrat Kurbanov (Turkmenistan) points 44-22
Middleweight (75kg): Nabil Kassel (Algeria) beat Glaucelio Abreu (Brazil) points 41-36
Karoly Balzsay (Hungary) beat Mohamed Sahraoui (Tunisia) points 29-24
Hassan Ndam Njikam (Cameroon) beat Juan Jose Ubaldo (Dominican Republic) decision 22-22
Suriya Prasathinphimai (Thailand) beat Joseph Lubega (Uganda) points 30-21
Oleg Mashkin (Ukraine) beat Khotso Godfrey Motau (South Africa) points 25-22
Cycling (men`s individual road race)
Tiaan Kannemeyer and Robert Hunter (South Africa) both did not finish.
Table Tennis (women`s singles first round)
Silvija Erdelji (Serbia & Montenegro) beat 64-Nesrine Ben Kahia (Tunisia) 11-3 11-1 11-3 11-7
Huang I-Hua (Taiwan) beat Leila Boucetta (Algeria) 11-8 11-3 11-4 11-8
Funke Oshonaike (Nigeria) beat Berta Rodriguez (Chile) 11-9 11-8 11-7 11-9
Hockey (women)
Pool B: South Africa 2-6 Netherlands
Thursday 12 August
Ghana opened their Olympic football campaign with a 2-2 draw against Italy in Group B. The 1992 bronze medallists let slip a two-goal half-time lead, yet the draw was no less than the Italians deserved.
After Emmanuel Pappoe and Stephen Appiah both struck for the Black Meteors, the Italians replied through Giampiero Pinzi and late on through Alberto Gilardino.
The draw leaves both Ghana and Italy on one point behind group leaders Paraguay, who beat Japan 4-3.
In Group D, Morocco drew 0-0 with Costa Rica. Iraq top the group after their 4-2 defeat of Portugal.
Wednesday 11 August
Two days before the official opening of the Athens Olympics, the games` football tournament began to ensure the event finishes on time. In Group A, Mali made a bright start on their Olympic football debut as they held Mexico to a 0-0 draw in Volos.
Meanwhile, Tunisia came from a goal behind to draw 1-1 with Australia in Group C. John Aloisi gave the Australians a late first-half lead before Ali Zitouni levelled for the north Africans in the 69th minute.
Even before a single punch has been thrown at the Olympic boxing tournament, Kenya`s only fighter in Athens, David Munyasia, has been sent home. The bantamweight has failed an out-of-competition drug test in Athens. All athletes have been subject to no-notice doping tests since the Olympic village opened on 30 July.
Farah Addo, the president of the Somali Olympic Committee, has been banned from attending the games after a complaint by football`s world governing body Fifa. He was given a 10-year ban by Fifa last month after it found him guilty of misusing funds earmarked for the Somali FA.
Zimbabwe`s sports minister Aeneas Chigwedere is also being refused a visa to enable him to attend the Olympics, in line with European Union sanctions.
It looks likely that Nigeria`s claims on the gold medal for the men`s 4X400m relay from Sydney games will be resisted by US Olympic officials. Athletics` governing body cancelled the result from four years ago on the basis that Jerome Young, who ran in the heats in Sydney, failed a drugs test before the games. The US Olympic committee have until 18 September to file an appeal.
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