Dakar 2026: Ghanaian boxer Robert Tagoe Amartey suffers quarter-final defeat to UAE’s Moaz Mohamed

Ghana’s participation at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games is down to one athlete after boxer Robert Tagoe Amartey became the latest to exit the competition following a split-decision defeat in his 70kg quarter-final bout on Tuesday (10 November) at the Dakar Expo.

The 17-year-old had received a bye in the Round of 16, and his quarter-final contest against the United Arab Emirates’ Moaz Mohamed presented him with an opportunity to secure a medal, as victory would guarantee him a place in the semi-finals and at least a bronze medal.

Aware of this, Amartey started aggressively in the opening round, throwing a flurry of punches in the first half, although he struggled to land cleanly.

However, once Mohamed settled into the contest, the Emirati boxer took control, landing the more effective punches to win the round by split decision, with four judges scoring in his favour and one for the Ghanaian.

Round two proved even more challenging for Amartey, who received a warning for hitting the back of Mohamed’s head. The Emirati again took the round by split decision.

Amartey’s best moment came in the third and final round when Mohamed walked into a heavy straight right hand that sent him backwards and forced the referee to administer a count.

Sensing an opportunity, Amartey pressed forward, but Mohamed’s persistent clinching left little room for the Ghanaian to continue his attacks before the final bell.

The judges’ scores came back with four favouring Mohamed and just one scoring for Amartey, bringing the Ghanaian’s campaign to an end.

Earlier in the day, sprinters Mary Coffie and Stephen Oduro finished 9th in their respective 400m hurdles final races.

Eleven of Ghana’s 13 athletes at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar have now exited the competition without winning a medal.

The remaining athlete, Jessica Mensah, who competes in taekwondo, is scheduled to compete on Wednesday.