Anthony Joshua has paid a heartfelt tribute to two of his closest friends, Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, who were killed in a car crash in Nigeria.
The two-time world champion was travelling in the back of a black Lexus SUV when it struck a stationary truck on a major road near Lagos on December 29.
The crash killed Ayodele and Ghami, both long-time members of Joshua’s team, and left the boxer shaken and with minor injuries.
He was treated in hospital for minor injuries before being discharged on New Year’s Eve.
Joshua, 36, took to social media to express his grief and gratitude, sharing a deeply emotional message with his followers. Posting on Instagram and X, he wrote: “Thank you for all the love and care you have shown my brothers.
“I didn’t even realise how special they are. I’ll just be walking with them and cracking jokes with them, not even knowing God kept me in the presence of great men. 100% 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.”
Alongside the message, Joshua shared a black and white image of his friends smiling together, captioned “Latz & Sina,” with angel wings and doves in the background. The post was met with an outpouring of sympathy from fans, fellow athletes, and public figures across the boxing world.
“They were true legends,” one X user wrote, with a second writing: “Such a tragic event. May they rest in peace. My condolences. Stay strong.”
The crash occurred while Joshua was in Nigeria on holiday following his knockout victory over American YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami on December 19. He had been spending time with his close-knit circle over the festive period when tragedy struck.
Hours before the crash, Joshua had shared a lighthearted video of himself playing table tennis with Ayodele, while Ghami posted an image of a jeep tagged to Lagos, Nigeria.
Authorities confirmed that the driver of the Lexus SUV, 47-year-old Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, has been charged on four counts, including causing death by dangerous driving, reckless and negligent driving, and driving without a valid licence. He denies all charges, claiming that the brakes failed. Kayode was granted bail set at five million Naira (£2,578) while the case continues in court, with proceedings adjourned until January 20, Sky News reports.
Both victims were described as more than just colleagues to Joshua — they were family. Ghami, who had been part of the boxer’s team for more than a decade, was a qualified sports and exercise rehabilitator specialising in musculoskeletal injuries and corrective exercise. He co-founded Evolve Gym and had travelled to Nigeria to support Joshua during the holiday season so that the fighter wouldn’t be alone.
Ayodele, known affectionately as “Latz,” was one of Joshua’s oldest friends, having known him long before his Olympic gold medal success. A semi-professional footballer and personal trainer, he worked as Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach and was described by those who knew him as “an inspirational person” with a contagious energy.
A spokesperson for Joshua said the two men were “close friends and integral members of Anthony’s team.” The statement added that their loss had been felt deeply within Joshua’s camp, both personally and professionally.
Joshua has since returned to the UK to recover and mourn privately with friends and family. On Sunday, he posted a photo on Instagram showing him seated on a sofa with four others, one of whom held a framed picture of Ghami. Joshua captioned the image, “My Brothers Keeper.”
The tragedy has drawn tributes from across the boxing community. Jake Paul, who shared the ring with Joshua just weeks earlier, and former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury were among those to offer their condolences. Fellow British heavyweight Fabio Wardley said Joshua would “need time to gather himself and decide what comes next” after such a devastating loss.
Our thoughts continue to go out to every person impacted by this tragedy.
Featured image credit: Instagram/AnthonyJoshua
