World heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua narrowly escaped death after being involved in a devastating car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his closest friends — fitness coach Sina Ghami and longtime associate Latif Ayodele.
The accident happened on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway near Makun at around 11 a.m. local time, only hours after Joshua had arrived in Nigeria for a short holiday. He was seated in the rear-left passenger seat of a chauffeur-driven, left-hand-drive Lexus when the vehicle crashed into a stationary lorry. Nigerian authorities believe the SUV may have been travelling above the legal speed limit during an overtaking manoeuvre, although other reports suggest a possible tyre blowout moments before the collision.
Video footage posted online showed the 36-year-old boxer shirtless, dazed and visibly in pain as he was helped from the wrecked vehicle by bystanders and emergency responders. Joshua, who is believed to have been wearing a seatbelt, was freed along with the local driver and taken to hospital, where he remains in stable condition under observation.
In a statement released by his team, a spokesperson said: “It is with the deepest and most profound sadness that we confirm, following a road traffic accident in Lagos, Nigeria, the death of Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele. Both were close friends and integral members of Anthony’s team. Anthony sustained injuries in the accident and was taken to hospital for checks and treatment. He is in a stable condition and will remain there for observation.”
Just 30 minutes before the crash, Joshua had shared a video on Instagram showing him playing table tennis with Ayodele, captioned: “Dishing out table tennis smoke.” The Lexus was part of a small convoy, with another SUV carrying Joshua’s security team travelling behind. That vehicle was not involved in the crash.
The tragedy came shortly after Joshua earned a reported £70 million from his victory over Jake Paul. Paul later expressed his support, writing on social media: “Life is much more important than boxing. I am praying for the lost lives, AJ and anyone impacted by today’s unfortunate accident.”
Nigeria’s president Bola Ahmed Tinubu confirmed that he had personally spoken with Joshua and his mother to offer condolences, adding that the boxer assured him he was receiving the best possible medical care.
Joshua, who has Nigerian roots and family ties to Ogun State, is currently scheduled to fight in Riyadh in February. However, the extent of his injuries could affect his immediate plans, including potential talks regarding a future bout with Tyson Fury. The UK Foreign Office has confirmed it is investigating the incident and is ready to offer consular assistance.
