By: Ganiyu Olayinka
Five Nigerian boxers have reached the finals of the African Elite Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, keeping alive the country’s hopes of multiple gold medals.
The finalists are Ridwan Raheem, Ajishola Khadijat, Precious Anine, Blessing Orakwe and Patricia Mbata. Their progress marks a recovery for Nigeria’s 10-member team, which lost five bouts in the early rounds.
Sunday was especially tough. Aishat Gbadamosi, Abdulramon Abdulwahab, Emmanuel Chuwuka and Kenneth Anigboro lost to opponents from Algeria, Egypt, Kenya and Uganda respectively. Some of the decisions drew complaints from spectators and raised questions about the officiating.
Raheem started the turnaround on Monday by beating Algeria’s Ismail Bekhsis in the men’s 60-65kg category. Before the fight, he had said he intended to win so convincingly that there would be no room for a controversial decision.
On Tuesday, Khadijat beat Kenya’s Amina Martha 5-0 in Bout 41 of the women’s 51-54kg category, winning the verdict of all five judges from the blue corner. Anine followed with a 5-0 win over Egypt’s Ayyad Yomna in Bout 45 of the women’s 60-65kg semi-final. Orakwe then stopped Uganda’s Aiwine Diana in the first round of Bout 47 in the women’s 75-80kg category. Mbata had already booked her place in the final stage.
Nigeria Boxing Federation board member and Head of Delegation, Capt. Rasulun Kashim, had earlier voiced confidence that the boxers had the talent and determination to compete with their continental rivals.
The focus now shifts to turning five final appearances into gold.
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