In pictures: Africa's Olympians

Nigeria's "Dream Team" beat Belgium on Tuesday, 4-1. They are now preparing to meet the Olympic reigning football champions, Argentina, on the pitch on Saturday, to battle it out for gold.

Earlier this week, Zimbabwe's "golden girl" - Kirsty Coventry - won a gold medal to add to her three silvers after coming first, as she did in Athens, in the women's 200m backstroke race.

South Africa's Khotso Mokoena will be leaving Beijing with a silver medal for his stunning performance in the men's long jump event...

... Mokoena's fellow South African Olympian, Nathalie du Toit, became the first female amputee to participate in the Olympics. She swam the marathon 10,000m open water race on Wednesday.

Eighteen-year-old Pamela Jelimo brought the gold home for Kenya when she powered to a brilliant 800m victory on Monday.

Janeth Jepkosgei could not match Jelimo's devastating pace but she took silver ahead of Morocco's Hasna Benhassi. Mozambique's veteran Olympian, Maria Mutola, finished out of the medals in sixth place.

Cameroon also got a gold on Monday - Francoise Mbango Etoneo successfully defended her Olympic triple jump title with a new Games record leap. An effort of 15.39 metres secured her victory

While on Tuesday, Tirunesh Dibaba, the world champion from Ethiopia, won the women's 10,000m race, setting a new Olympic record with her time of 29 minutes 54.68 seconds.

Dibaba's compatriot, Kenenisa Bekele also won a gold medal and created an Olympic record after storming ahead to win the men's 10,000m. Their fellow countryman, Sileshi Sihine took the silver.

Kenya's Catherine Ndereba celebrated after speeding her way to silver in the women's marathon, after she battled down the home straight.

The Olympics is always an occasion to watch sports that are less well followed - here Cameroon's Fomum Victorine Agum is seen playing table tennis in the women's singles.