Whitebooi was crowned as the continental champion last year in front of a home crowd in Cape Town.

The 24-year-old moved to the brink of retaining her crown by advancing to the women’s under-48 kilogram final in Antananarivo, Madagascar’s capital city.

She sealed victory by overcoming Morocco’s Aziza Chakir in the gold medal bout.

Mauritius’ Priscilla Morand and Burundi’s Signoline Kanyamuneza won bronze medals in the division.

Guinea-Bissau’s Taciana Cesar emerged as the winner of the women’s under-52kg competition, with the Brazilian-born judoka beating Soumiya Iraoui of Morocco in the final.

Ivory Coast’s Salimata Fofana and South Africa’s Charné Griesel completed the podium places.

Diassonema Mucungui topped the podium in the women’s under-57kg event, as the Angolan judoka secured victory in the final against the Ivory Coast’s Zoulehia Abzetta Dabonne.

Defending champion Ghofran Khelifi of Tunisia was left settling for bronze, joining Madagascar’s Narindra Rakotovao on the bottom step of the podium.

Tunisia enjoyed success in the men’s competition on the opening day as Fraj Dhouibi retained his under-60kg title.

Dhouibi overcame Morocco’s Issam Bassou in the final.

Cameroon’s Bernadin Tsala Tsala and Alexandre De Barros E Silva of Cape Verde won bronze.

Egypt’s Mohamed Abdelmawgoud won the men’s under-66kg title for the third time in his career, courtesy of a victory over his compatriot Ahmed Abelrahman in the final.

Morocco’s Imad Bassou and Steven Mungandu of Zambia won bronze.

The African Judo Championships will continue tomorrow.