Abdoul Razak Issoufou

Abdoul Razak Issoufou Alfaga, born on December 26, 1994, is a distinguished taekwondo athlete from Niger. His journey into the sport began under challenging circumstances; at the age of seven, his father prohibited him from practicing taekwondo following a tragic incident involving a cousin. However, after relocating to Togo at eleven, Issoufou reignited his passion for taekwondo, borrowing a friend's dobok to train.

With determination and talent, Issoufou garnered support from the International Olympic Committee, allowing him to train at the Taekwondo Competence Center in Friedrichshafen, Germany. His hard work paid off when he clinched a gold medal at the 2015 African Games, followed by a silver medal at the African Olympic Qualifiers, which earned him a spot to represent Niger at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

At the Olympics, Issoufou made history by becoming Niger's first medallist since Issake Dabore in 1972. He reached the finals, ultimately securing a silver medal after a fierce competition against Radik Isayev of Azerbaijan. This achievement marked the best result ever for Niger at the Olympic Games, and he proudly carried the national flag during the closing ceremony.

Continuing his success, Issoufou showcased his skills at the 2021 African Taekwondo Championships in Dakar, Senegal, where he won the gold medal in the men's +87 kg event. He also competed in the men's +80 kg event at the 2020 Summer Olympics, further solidifying his status as a leading figure in taekwondo.