The African champion missed out during the continent's Olympic qualification tournament in Rabat last month after losing in the semi-finals of the women's under-57 kilograms division.

Winning her last four clash would have booked her place in Tokyo, but Niger's Tekiath Ben Yessouf took that honour after coming out on top.

Morocco's Nada Laaraj also qualified after winning her home tournament, while Nwosu had to make do with bronze.

"I have prepared and waited for this day for the past four years, and I am shattered and gutted that this has happened for the second time," Nwosu, the second seed in Rabat and a 10-time national champion, said. 

"As the African champion, everyone was prepared for me, and on the match that mattered most, I did not provide the needed answers.

"I congratulate Tekiath on making it to her first Olympics. 

"There must be winners and losers in sport and at this time the ovation did not go my way. 

"Let all the qualified athletes from Africa now go and make the continent proud in Tokyo.

"Winning a World Championships medal in China next year will go a long way to dampen this sharp pain I feel from losing this Olympic ticket. 

"It will be hard mentally, and I will pick myself up and keep moving."

Elizabeth Anyanacho did qualify for Tokyo 2020 for Nigeria, in the women's under-67kg category.