Seidou Nji Mouluh was one of three gold medallists from Cameroon on day one of the African Sambo Championships ©FIAS

Seidou Nji Mouluh - the man who made history as Africa's first-ever sambist to win a world title - was among the host nation's victors as the African Sambo Championships began in Cameroon.

Nji Mouluh overcame Egypt's Khaled Abdalftah in the under-98 kilograms combat sambo final to earn one of Cameroon's three gold medals on the first day of action in Yaoundé.

Julien Claude Tombou Mouafouo won the men's over-98kg crown, seeing off the Nigerien Abdoul Rachid Adamou Moumouni to win gold, and Joseph Emilienne Essombe Tiako won the women's under-59kg title in Cameroon's other victories.

Essombe Tiako beat Rahima Saad Hassan from Djibouti in her final.

Moroccans won four gold medals including the other two on offer in combat sambo; Badreddine Diani won the under-79kg title and Youssef Faout the under-64kg crown, both defeating Cameroonian athletes in their finals.

Moroccan Yassine Omari, centre, led the men's under-71kg podium and beat Mali's Youssouf Diallo in the final ©FIAS
Moroccan Yassine Omari, centre, led the men's under-71kg podium and beat Mali's Youssouf Diallo in the final ©FIAS

Francois Roger Okoua and Stephane Eloge Nguidjoi had to settle for silver medals at under-79kg and under-64kg, respectively.

Morocco's Yasser Bouhessoune and Yassine Omari are the new men's under-58kg and under-71kg African champions.

Samah Is Abdellatef from Egypt beat home athlete Phalone Viviane Nidjeu in the women's under-72kg final.

Algerian Abderaouf Bourreghida earned the opening day's other gold medal, at men's under-88kg, beating Aboubacar Sadou from Niger in the final.

Men's, women's and combat sambo action is due to conclude tomorrow, before beach events take centre stage on Monday (July 18).