The three-day competition was held on a natural course on the Sagana River, which is 100 kilometres north of capital Nairobi, and offered tickets to Brazil next summer for the winners of three disciplines.

Jean Pierre Bourhis was victorious in the men's C1, taking the continental title and earning his Rio place by coming home 6.46 seconds ahead of South Africa's Olympian Lindelani Ngidi.

The 20-year-old is a graduate of the International Canoe Federation's talent identification programme and was the most assured canoeist to qualify as he paddled to gold.

Kenya scooped the bronze medal as Alphaxard Mania did enough for third place.

In the men's K1, gold and the Rio place went to Nigeria's Johnathan Akinyemi who has now earned a spot at two consecutive Summer Olympics after also qualifying for London 2012.

The 26-year-old was 21st out of 22 competitors in Britain's capital and didn't advance from the opening round.

Mehdi Rouich of Morocco took silver with the bronze going to South Africa's Katleho Mahlaba.

In the women's K1, 16-year-old Moroccan Hind Jamili had a winning margin of 3.27 sec over compatriot Celia Jodar.

Bronze went to the host nation courtesy of Grace Mania.

This year's Championships saw canoeists from Sudan make their first appearance at continental level. 

The Sagana River also hosted the Olympic qualifier ahead of Beijing 2008 in 2007.

On that occasion, Togo's Benjamin Boukpeti advanced and went on to win his country's first ever Olympic medal after scooping K1 bronze in China.

The Rio 2016 competition will take place at The Whitewater Stadium, located on the Deodoro Olympic Park.



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