The battle for Africa’s slots in the men and women team events of Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games begins on Wednesday, August 21 at the 12th African Games holding in Rabat, Morocco.

18 men teams and 12 women teams will battle for the continental sole slot in the men and women event of Tokyo 2020.

The continental powerhouses – Nigeria and Egypt are top seeds in the men and women events with Nigeria men aiming to defend the title they won in 2015, while the Egyptian ladies led by Dina Meshref will also be keen to hold to the title.

Both teams have been handed an easy ride to the knockout stage with Nigeria drawing Madagascar and Kenya in Group A of men while Egypt is in Group B alongside Congo DRC and Eritrea. In the women draw, Egypt as the top seed is in Group A with Kenya and Morocco while Nigeria has been pitched against Uganda and Congo Brazzaville in Group B.

The top seven teams in the event will also secure qualification to the 2020 World Team Championships holding in Busan, South Korea.

MEN: Group A (Nigeria, Madagascar, Kenya); Group B (Egypt, Congo DRC, Eritrea); Group C (Congo Brazzaville, Mauritius, Angola); Group D (Algeria, Senegal, Ethiopia); Group E (Togo, Ghana, Djibouti); Group F (South Africa, Tunisia, Morocco)

WOMEN: Group A (Egypt, Kenya, Morocco); Group B (Nigeria, Uganda, Congo Brazzaville); Group C (Algeria, Mauritius, Congo DRC); Group D (Tunisia, South Africa, Ethiopia).

Two teams from each group advance to the next stage with the winner in the men and women events qualifying for Tokyo 2020.