![Mehdi Bouloussa celebrates winning the coveted spot to Paris 2024. ATTF](https://cdn.statically.io/img/cdn.dmcl.biz/media/image/297039/o/Mehdi+Bouloussa.jpg)
Nigerian Fatimo Bello is off to the Paris Olympic Games after defeating Algeria’s Lynda Loghraibi 4-2 in the final of the second stage of the African Olympic Qualification Tournament at the BK Arena in Kigali, Rwanda.
Bello initially failed to qualify through the first stage of qualifiers: losing 4-1 to Cameroon’s Sarah Hanffou. She returned stronger to win the sole slot in the second stage of qualifiers of the women’s singles.
The 26-year-old joins her compatriots Olajide Omotayo and Offiong Edem to compete for Team Nigeria in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The first ones are the sweetest, they say.
— ITTF-Africa (@ITTFAfrica) May 18, 2024
Congratulations to Fatimo Bello of Nigeria on securing her maiden qualification for the Olympics. Fatimo defeated Lynda Loughrabi 4-2 in the women's final of the African Olympic Qualifier. #RoadToParis pic.twitter.com/6PPm9FSOVG
Bouloussa, who narrowly lost to Wassim Essid of Tunisia in the quarterfinal round of the first stage, defeated Saheed Idowu of Congo Brazzaville in the second stage of the qualifiers.
Cameroon's Sarah Haffou will also make her third Olympics appearance, while Fabio Rakotoarimanana makes history to become the first Madagascan table tennis player to qualify for the Olympic Games after picking the second slot in the first stage of the qualifiers.