Youssef Badawy, right, is one of two Egyptian world champions set to compete at the African Karate Championships in Durban ©WKF

Egypt's reigning world champions Ahlam Youssef and Youssef Badawy will seek to add continental gold to their collections at the 2022 African Karate Championships, starting in Durban tomorrow.

World Championship medallists Menna Shaaban Okila, Ali Elsawy and Abdalla Abdelaziz of Egypt and Morocco’s Abdel Ali Jina will also be in the hunt for gold.

The three-day event will feature senior, junior and cadet competition involving nearly 400 athletes from 22 African countries.

As the tournament returns to the African east coast after 15 years, the African Karate Federation (UFAK) gathering in Durban is expected to continue the progress of the sport in the continent.

The event will take place in the Olive Convention Centre in Durban.

The last edition of the UFAK Championships was held in Cairo in 2021, when the hosts topped the medals table with a total of 38 medals including 26 gold.

Abdalla Abdelaziz, right, is part of a strong Egyptian team ©Getty Images
Abdalla Abdelaziz, right, is part of a strong Egyptian team ©Getty Images

Algeria and Tunisia also performed to high levels in Cairo and will be looking for repeat performances.

The UFAK is preceding competition with a General Assembly today.

Coaching exams, referee and judge lectures, the competition draw and a UFAK Executive Committee meeting are on the agenda.

"At the outset, may I express my heartfelt thanks to the leadership of UFAK for affording Karate South Africa an opportunity to host the continent's premier karate championships," Karate South Africa President Sonny Pillay said.