South Africa's Commonwealth champion Henri Schoeman is favourite to win the Africa Triathlon Championship starting in Egypt tomorrow ©Getty Images

South Africa’s Rio 2016 bronze medallist and reigning Commonwealth champion Henri Schoeman will be one of the favourites at the Africa Triathlon Championships due to start at Sharm El Sheikh in Egpyt tomorrow.

Schoeman, who finished seventh in last year’s World Triathlon rankings, may find his closest challenge coming from fellow countryman Nicholas Quenet, who finished fourth at the same venue on Monday (June 7) in the Africa Triathlon Cup and Pan Arab Championships.

The field also includes Morocco’s seventh and 12th-placed runners at the Africa Triathlon Cup, respectively Mehdi Essadiq and Badr Siwane - the latter being the 2019 African Games champion.

Morocco's 2019 African Games champion Badr Siwane is in the field at the Africa Triathlon Championships that start in Egypt tomorrow ©Facebook/Jeux Africains Rabat 2019
Morocco's 2019 African Games champion Badr Siwane is in the field at the Africa Triathlon Championships that start in Egypt tomorrow ©Facebook/Jeux Africains Rabat 2019

South Africa’s 31-year-old Simone Ackermann, an experienced World Championship performer and who placed 19th in 2016, appears favourite to win the elite women’s race.

She faces opposition from compatriot Gillian Sanders, Algeria’s Kahina Mebarki and Sarra Lajnef of Tunisia.

Strict COVID-19 protocols are in place for an event that is due to run until Sunday (June 13).