London 2012 Olympic silver medallist Alaaeldin Abouelkassem won gold for Egypt on day one of the African Fencing Championships ©Getty Images

London 2012 Olympic silver medallist Alaaeldin Abouelkassem won gold for Egypt on day one of the African Fencing Championships in Bamako as Sarra Besbes also clinched glory for Tunisia.

Abouelkassem battled to top honours in the men's foil at the Palais des sports Salamata in Mali's capital as Besbes grabbed gold in the women's épée.

Abouelkassem won an all-Egyptian final, 15-11 against compatriot Mohamed Hamza.

The world number 16 was the best-ranked fencer in the draw and proved too strong for his team-mate who is ranked at 49.

He has now won the African title on four consecutive occasions and eight times in all.

Both Egyptians beat Tunisians in the semi-finals with Abouelkassemwon seeing off Mohamed Ayoub Ferjani 15-11.

Tunisia's Sarra Besbes won a ninth African title in the women's épée ©Getty Images
Tunisia's Sarra Besbes won a ninth African title in the women's épée ©Getty Images

Hamza ousted Mohamed Samandi 15-13.

Gold for Besbes, the world number 54, came after a 15-7 success over Egypt's Shirwit Gaber.

She defeated Ndeye Binta Diongue of Senegal 15-7 in the last four with Gaber beating Egyptian colleague Sara Nounou 15-9.

Besbes now boasts nine African titles and has reclaimed the crown she last won in 2015.

Egypt's world number 38 Nardin Ehab was the top-ranked fencer competing but was edged 15-14 by Gaber in the quarter-finals.

Competition is due to continue in Bamako tomorrow with the men's épée and women's sabre.