NAIROBI, Kenya — Algerian judoka Mohamed El Mehdi Lili claimed the men’s +100 kg title at the 47th African Senior Judo Championships on Saturday, April 25, 2026, securing Algeria’s fourth gold medal of the tournament and cementing the nation’s dominance at the Continental Championships held at the Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi.
Lili advanced to the final after a strong semifinal performance, setting up a clash against Egypt’s Aborakia Mohamed. The Algerian judoka prevailed in the final bout to capture the continental crown, adding to Algeria’s growing medal tally in the men’s heavyweight division.
The victory marked a successful second day of individual competition for Algeria, which had already earned five medals on Friday — including three golds — to open the championships. Yasmine Djellab won gold in the women’s -63 kg category, Kais Moudetere took top honors in the men’s -66 kg, and Driss Messaoud claimed victory in the men’s -73 kg. Bronze medals were secured by Younes Benlaribi in the men’s -60 kg and Lycia Anaïs Guebli in the women’s -52 kg.
On Saturday, Lili and Dyhia Benchallal both reached the finals in their respective weight classes. Benchallal advanced to the women’s +78 kg final, where she faced Tunisia’s Dhawaedi Sixar. The Algerian delegation had three additional athletes competing for bronze medals later in the day, underscoring the team’s depth across multiple categories.
The 2026 African Senior Judo Championships began on Friday, April 24, with opening rounds in the men’s -60 kg, -66 kg, and -73 kg divisions, as well as the women’s -48 kg, -52 kg, -57 kg, and -63 kg events. A total of 261 judokas from 35 nations participated in the individual events, comprising 160 men and 101 women, according to official African Judo Union records.
During the opening ceremony, African Judo Union Vice-President Mohamed Meridja emphasized the sport’s continued growth across the continent: “African judo continues to grow stronger and more ambitious. Each edition reflects the progress of our athletes as well as the commitment of the federations to excellence, discipline, and unity.”
The championships also featured a mixed team competition scheduled for Sunday, April 26, further highlighting the event’s focus on unity and cooperation among participating nations. Algeria’s strong performance in the individual events positioned them as contenders in the team competition as well.
Several Algerian athletes who did not reach the podium on Friday still gained valuable experience, placing between fifth and ninth in their divisions. These included Houaria Kaddour, Rahma Ghalima, Amina Berrahoual, and Belkadi Amina in the women’s categories, along with Mounir Benyahia and Oussama Abdelhak Hezil in the men’s divisions.
With the individual events concluded, Algeria’s judo team now turns its focus to the mixed team finals, aiming to build on their individual success and add another medal to their continental championship count.
For continued coverage of the 47th African Senior Judo Championships and other international judo events, follow official updates from the African Judo Union and trusted sports news sources.
Share your thoughts on Algeria’s performance at the African Judo Championships in the comments below, and stay tuned for more updates from Archysport.
