Over 20 current and former college tennis players took to the courts in Accra, Ghana this past week for the 2024 African Games, in which they competed for their countries in a week full of highly competitive action.
First held in 1965, the African Games is a multi-sport event held every four years, with all 53 members affiliated to the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) being eligible to take part in the Games. At the 2024 African Games, medals were awarded for singles, doubles, and team play for both men and women.
Across all of the competing countries, Angella Okutoyi (Auburn), Mayar Sherif (Fresno St./Pepperdine), Quadre Barakat Oyinlomo (FIU), Sada Nahimana (NC State), Adesuwa Deandra Osabouhien (NIU), Tanyaradzwa Midzi (Nebraska-Kearney), Ruth Crawford (UMass), Yasmine Kabbaj (FIU) and Sierra Sandy (FAMU) were among the competing with college ties.
In singles, it was the current Auburn sophomore Angella Okutoyi who captured the gold medal. Defeating Lamis Elhussein Salama of Egypt 6-2, 6-4 in the final, Okutoyi became the first Kenyan player since 1978 to win the gold in singles at the African Games.
En route to the singles final, the Auburn sophomore received a bye in the Round of 64 before earning three straight set victories to solidify a spot in the Semifinals. Once in the final four, Okutoyi grabbed her highest ranked professional career win, defeating Egypt’s, and former Pepperdine standout, Mayar Sherif (WTA No. 70) 5-7, 7-5, 7-6 in a marathon 4 hour and 27 minute battle.
Now ranked No. 532 in the WTA Singles Rankings, the Kenyan native will receive a direct ticket to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris if she reaches the Top 400 in the world prior to June 10th. She would become the first Kenyan women in history to play at an Olympic Tennis Event if she is able to reach this rankings threshold.
Following her singles win, Okutoyi and her partner Cynthia Cheruto Wanjala went up against Egypt’s Merna Mostafa Refaat Elkotb and Sandra Semeh Samir in the doubles finals, falling 6-4, 6-7, 3-10 to take the silver medal.
On the men’s side, Moez Echargui (Nevada), Aziz Dougaz (Florida State), Skander Mansouri (Wake Forest), Courtney John Lock (Louisville), Benjamin Lock (Florida State), Wilson Igbinovia (West Alabama), Christopher Bulus (UNLV), Isaac Nortey (Nevada), Abraham Asaba (Virginia Tech), Herman Abban (Carthage), William Bushamuka (Kentucky), Guy Iradukunda (Florida State), and Delmas N’tcha (Nevada) were among those competing for their countries.
At the conclusion of the tournament, it was Tunisian native Moez Echargui (Nevada) who was crowned the gold medalist in the men’s singles draw, defeating Zimbabwe’s Benjamin Lock (FSU) 7-6, 3-6, 6-2. On his way to the final, Echargui secured wins over Christian Saidi Utopio, Sylvestre Monnou, Wilfred Eliakim, and Mohamed Safwat Amin. By winning the gold medal, Echargui secured his qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
While at Nevada, Echargui posted a career singles record of 52-34, recording a career best 19-8 during his junior season. That same season, Echargui earned his first conference honors after being named to the Mountain West All-Conference Singles Award.
In the men’s doubles draw, it was an all former collegiate final with the Tunisian team of Aziz Dougaz (FSU) and Skander Mansouri (Wake Forest) defeating Courtney John Lock (Louisville) and Benjamin Lock (FSU) 6-3, 6-4 to claim gold. Dougaz and Mansouri’s win marked the third gold medal for Tunisian tennis at the 2024 African Games.
For full results and more information of the 2024 African Olympics click here.
