Abubakar Kamoko, the son of retired Ghanaian boxer Bukom Banku, has etched his name in history at the recently concluded 2023 African Games by securing a silver medal, surpassing his father’s achievements from 25 years ago.
Competing in the fiercely contested 86kg cruiserweight category, Kamoko initially secured his place in the semifinals with an outstanding performance, matching his father’s record by clinching a bronze medal.
However, Kamoko’s ambition drove him further as he triumphed over Nathan Mbeli Ndlandu of the Democratic Republic of Congo in a closely contested match, securing a place in the finals.
Despite his determination to clinch the ultimate prize, Kamoko faced a tough challenge in the finals against Algerian boxer Kanouni Ousama, who emerged victorious with a 5-0 decision, denying Ghana another gold in boxing.
Nevertheless, Kamoko’s silver medal adds to Ghana’s impressive performance in boxing at the Games. Ghana secured four gold, one silver, and two bronze medals in the boxing discipline, finishing third overall behind Nigeria and Algeria.
Among the gold medalists were Mohammed Aryeetey in the Men’s 48Kg, Mohammed Amadu in the Men’s Bantamweight (54kg), Joseph Commey in Men’s 60kg, and Samuel Takyi in the Light Welterweight (63.5Kg) category.
Additionally, Theophilus Allotey and Janet Acqua also secured bronze medals for Ghana in the Men’s 51kg and Women’s 48Kg categories, respectively.
The remarkable achievements of these boxers contributed to Ghana’s overall success at the African Games, where the nation secured a record-breaking 68 medals, including 19 gold, 29 silver, and 20 bronze medals.
This outstanding performance propelled Ghana to sixth place out of 53 participating nations, marking a significant improvement from its 15th position in the previous edition in Rabat in 2019, where it garnered only 13 medals.
Despite Egypt retaining its title as defending champions, the nation fell short of its previous record, amassing 187 medals, including 99 golds. Nigeria secured the runner-up position with 120 medals, while South Africa moved up to third place, pushing Algeria down to fourth in the final rankings.
Ghana’s success in boxing and overall performance at the 2023 African Games serves as a testament to the nation’s sporting prowess and dedication, showcasing the talent and determination of its athletes on the continental stage.
