Tokyo Bound Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTA) student-athlete, Elizabeth Anyanacho wins silver in her first African Taekwondo Championship in Dakar Senegal.
The 300 level student of FUTO who fights in the 67kg warrior finished second losing 8-10 in finals of the African Championship to World Champion and Olympic bronze Medalist, Ruth Gbagbi of Cote D’Ivoire.
This is Anyanacho’s first time out at the African major event and is the last major ranking tournament before jetting off to represent Nigeria at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
The 22-year-old had overwhelmed Umurerwa Nagede of Rwanda in the quarterfinals 24-1, preceding overcoming current reigning African champion and Tokyo-bound Hedaya Malek of Egypt 6-5 in the semi finals.
Anyanacho will be the first Nigerian Taekwondo player to feature at the Olympics since compatriot Chika Chukwumerije won Bronze in the men’s heavy weight event in Beijing 2008 and only the 2nd female to qualify for the Olympics after Princess Dudu at the Athens 2004 Olympics.