Algeria secured the top position in the medal standings at the African Senior Judo Championships held in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, from April 25 to 26, 2025, according to official results from the International Judo Federation. The North African nation accumulated a total of nine medals — four gold, one silver, and four bronze — surpassing all other competing federations in the continental event.
The championship brought together 190 judoka representing 24 African countries, competing across ten weight divisions for men and women. Algeria’s performance highlighted the depth of its judo program, with Khaled Sekhri emerging as one of the standout athletes contributing to the country’s gold medal tally.
Morocco followed in second place with six medals — three gold, one silver, and two bronze — while Tunisia claimed third with ten medals overall: two gold, three silver, and five bronze. Guinea and Angola rounded out the top five, with Guinea earning two gold medals and Angola securing one gold, two silvers, and four bronzes.
On the men’s side, Algeria showed strength in multiple categories, particularly in the middle and heavyweight divisions. Sekhri competed in the -81 kg class, one of the most contested fields with 24 athletes — the largest men’s division at the tournament. His performance in this weight class was instrumental in securing Algeria’s podium finish in that category.
The women’s team also contributed significantly to Algeria’s medal count, with strong showings in the -57 kg, -63 kg, and -70 kg divisions. Whereas specific individual results for female Algerian athletes were not detailed in the official breakdown, their collective efforts were critical in achieving the nation’s four bronze medals.
Egypt, despite finishing fourth in the overall medal ranking with nine medals (four gold, one silver, four bronze), demonstrated continued competitiveness, especially in the lighter weight classes. Though, Algeria’s superior distribution of gold medals — four compared to Egypt’s four but with fewer total medals — gave them the edge in the standings due to the priority placed on gold medal count in international judo rankings.
The event served as a key qualifier and preparation benchmark for African athletes aiming to compete at the 2026 African Senior Championships scheduled for Nairobi, Kenya, from April 24 to 25, 2026. With the continental circuit progressing toward the next edition, Algeria’s victory in Abidjan positions them as a leading contender for repeat success.
Competition officials noted that the Abidjan championships were conducted under standard IJF rules, with preliminary rounds beginning each day at 9:00 AM local time (GMT) and final blocks commencing at 4:00 PM local time. The two-day structure allowed for adequate recovery between elimination rounds and medal bouts, contributing to the high level of competition observed throughout.
Looking ahead, Algerian judo officials are expected to analyze the Abidjan results to refine training strategies and athlete preparation for upcoming international events, including the 2026 African Championships in Nairobi and potential Olympic qualification pathways for the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
For continued coverage of African judo developments, athlete profiles, and tournament outcomes, readers are encouraged to follow official updates from the African Judo Union and the International Judo Federation.
Share your thoughts on Algeria’s historic performance in the comments below, and stay tuned for more in-depth analysis of judo’s growing prominence across the continent.
