Ta Lou, Ahouré Headline Big Names For All-African Games

Athletics at All-African Games, set for August 26-30, will have some big names.

Carole Fuchs confirmed several team selections.

In total, 12 athletes will represent Côte d’Ivoire. Sprint stars Marie-Josée Ta Lou, Murielle Ahouré and Arthur Cissé, have confirmed their participation, which will bring an excellent level to the sprints.

The country will also have medal chances in the 100m hurdles with Karel Ziketh and Rosvitha Okou, currently 5th and 7th in the 2019 African lists.

Sixteen athletes have been selected to represent Ghana. Among the athletes to watch, sprinter Joseph Paul Amoah who achieved the Olympic standard both in the 100m (10.01) and 200m (20.08) and long jumper Abubakar Mohammed (8.10m in 2019) who will be among the favourites in the absence of the South Africans.

On the women’s side, the 4x100m squad is the fastest in Africa this year, while Deborah Acquah is third in the long jump. Both Rose Yeboah and Abigail Kwarteng have jumped higher than 1.80m.

Fifteen will represent Zimbabwe. The team is headlined by the men’s 4x100m relay squad which is ranked second on the 2019 African top lists behind South Africa.

Fortunate Chidzivo, who finished 6th at the South Africa half-marathon championships in a new PB of 1:12:47 at the end of July, is the best hope on the women’s side. She, however, will face a strong challenge from her East African opponents.

Team Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) for the African Games will send three athletes. Sibusiso Matsenjwa in men’s 100/200m, 400 m specialist Andile Lusenga, who set a national record of 46.36 in April and Phumlile Ndzinisa, the 100m record holder, who has a season’s best of 11.86.