Senegal, Morocco and Nigeria each secured a spot at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games by winning their respective races at the 2015 African Canoe Slalom Championships, which also acted as the Continent's Olympic Qualifier.  

The three-day competition was contested on a natural course constructed on the Sagana River just 100 kilometres north of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi. 

Jean Pierre Bourhis (SEN), Hind Jamili (MAR) and Johnathan Akinyemi (NGR) were the three athletes who secured their nations a seat on the plane to Rio. 

Senegal’s Bourhis, 20, looked the most assured of those to qualify, winning the continental title with a margin of 6.46-seconds ahead of South Africa's eperienced Olympian Lindelani Ngidi in the C1M final.

This marks an important milestone for the young paddler and underlined the improvements he has achieved from within the International Canoe Federation’s Talent Identification Programme (TIP). 

16-year-old Jamili took the spot in the K1W with a margin of 3.27-seconds ahead of her teammate, Celia Jodar (MAR). 

Whilst the relative-veteran performer, Akinyemi, booked his nation's Olympic spot with victory in the K1M.

The 26-year-old Nigerian competed at the London 2012 Olympic Games and will hope his current form is enough to ensure his nation backs his Olympic aspirations for a second time.

The championships also welcomed two new nations to the fold, with Togo and Sudan making their first appearance at continental level. 

It was also the second time that this particular stretch of  whitewater has held and Olympic qualification event, with the venue also being the hosts for the Beijing continental selection in 2007. 

C1M 

Gold - Jean Pierre Bourhis (SEN)
Silver – Lindelani Ngidi (RSA)
Bronze – Alphaxard Mania (KEN)

K1W

Gold - Hind Jamili (MAR)
Silver - Celia Jodar (MAR)
Bronze - Grace Mania (KEN) 

K1M

Gold - Johnathan Akinyemi (NGR)
Silver – Mehdi Rouich (MAR)
Bronze – Katleho Mahlaba (RSA)