Former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua has paid a heartfelt tribute to his close friends and team members, Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, following their tragic deaths in a fatal road accident in Nigeria.
Ghami and Ayodele were killed when the vehicle they were travelling in, alongside Joshua and another passenger, collided with a stationary truck on a major road near Lagos. Joshua sustained minor injuries in the crash and later returned to the United Kingdom, where he attended funeral prayers for the deceased at a mosque in London.
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Taking to social media on Thursday, Joshua described the loss as deeply painful, admitting that he only fully understood the greatness of his late friends after their passing.
“Thank you for all the love and care you have shown my brothers,”
Joshua wrote. “I didn’t even realise how special they are. I’d just be walking with them and cracking jokes, not knowing God kept me in the presence of great men. It’s tough for me, but I know it’s even tougher for their parents. I have a strong mind, and I believe God knows their hearts. May God have mercy on my brothers.”
Sina Ghami had worked closely with Joshua for over a decade as his full-time sports and exercise rehabilitation coach, playing a key role in the boxer’s career.
Latif Ayodele, popularly known as “Latz,” was a long-time friend and personal trainer.
Just hours before the accident,
Joshua had shared a video on Instagram showing himself playing table tennis with Ayodele, a moment that has since taken on poignant significance. Days later, the boxer posted images from the funeral, including one of him sitting with his mother and the mothers of the deceased, and another of him holding a photograph of Ghami.
Meanwhile, the driver involved in the crash, 46-year-old Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, has been charged at a Sagamu Magistrates’ Court with offences including causing death by dangerous driving. He was granted bail of ₦5 million and the case has been adjourned until 20 January.
Joshua, who was born in Watford but has family roots in Sagamu, Ogun State, was reportedly travelling to visit relatives for New Year celebrations at the time of the collision.
He had been spending time in Nigeria following his recent victory over American YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in December.
The tribute from Joshua has sparked an outpouring of condolences from fans, fellow athletes and public figures worldwide, many praising the boxer for his humility, faith and emotional strength in the face of a devastating loss.
