Davilson Morais, seen in blue, lost his first fight in Dakar ©Getty Images

The heavyweight and super-heavyweight divisions both saw their first fights at the African Olympic boxing qualifier in Dakar, but Cape Verde's Davilson Morais' hopes of fighting at a second Olympics were dashed.

Keddy Agnes of the Seychelles beat Morais on points - an impressive feat given Morais boxed at Rio 2016, where he lost to silver medallist Joe Joyce of Britain.

In the same division, Maxime Yegnong Njieyo of Cameroon also advanced after a comprehensive points victory over Uganda's Solomon Geko Kozaala, who faced a standing count at one point.

Ghana's Anani Kutsuke also advanced, beating Haruna Swanga Mhando of Tanzania on the judges' scorecards.

Perhaps the most thrilling fight of the day was between Libya's Dawku Asim Salih Amhimmid and Angola's Nafital Alfonso Goma at welterweight.

Goma was knocked to the floor when he looked to be on top, but the 21-year-old fought back and the referee stopped the fight after he forced a standing count.

Zambia's 19-year-old Stephen Zimba also caught then eye in the welterweight division, breezing past Snowden Munyanje of Malawi.

"If I continue fighting like this, I think I will make the final and qualify for Tokyo 2022," Zimba said confidently afterwards.

That would represent "the biggest thing in my life," he added.

Kenyan featherweight Nick Okoth - who by contrast is 36 - was another fighter to advance.

He beat Wilson Semedo of Cape Verde as he bids to reach the Olympics for the first time since Beijing 2008.

There are still another seven days of boxing to go in Senegal and the event, organised by the International Olympic Committee's Boxing Task Force, continues tomorrow.