Two-time world champion Giana Lotfy of Egypt will bid for a third continental crown at the event in Botswana ©WKF

Two-time world champion Giana Lotfy of Egypt will bid for a third continental crown at the African Karate Federation (UFAK) Senior Championships in Gaborone this weekend.

Lofty arrives in the Botswana capital as the headline name and will aim for further glory in the women's under-61 kilograms kumite division.

Egypt, who topped the medals table at the last edition of the UFAK Senior Championships in Kigali last year, are again expected to dominate at the University of Botswana Indoor Sports Centre.

Sarah Sayed will defend her women's kata title and could face a tough challenge from Morocco's Sanae Agalmam, while fellow Egyptian Feryal Abdelaziz is targeting gold in the women's under-68kg category.

Gold medals will be decided on all three days of action in Gaborone ©WKF
Gold medals will be decided on all three days of action in Gaborone ©WKF

Abdelaziz, who won the Karate 1-Premier League Dubai this year, is set to face defending champion and World Championships bronze medallist Lamya Matoub of Algeria.

Ali Elsawy will also carry Egyptian hopes on his shoulders as the world number three goes for gold in the men's under-61kg division.

Hocine Daikhi of Algeria has his eyes set on his second consecutive continental title in the under-68kg event, while South African Michael Du Plassis will aim to achieve the same feat in the men's kata.

The event begins tomorrow and concludes on Sunday (July 14), with finals due to be held on all three days of competition.