He ascended to the top of the continental rankings at the 1998 African Championships in Athletics, where he secured the African title with a clearance of 2.21 metres. He was selected to represent Africa at the 1998 IAAF World Cup as a result and finished in sixth place. He improved further the following season and was runner-up at the 1999 All-Africa Games with a jump of 2.24 m and cleared 2.27 m to win the silver at the 1999 Military World Games. He managed tenth place at the 1999 World Championships in Athletics that year and improved his personal best to 2.32 m in Rovereto in September.