Two close friends and team members of world-renowned boxer Anthony Joshua have been identified as the victims of the tragic road accident that occurred on Monday along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Joshua’s promoter, Matchroom Boxing, confirmed that the deceased were Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, both longtime members of his inner circle.
“With profound sadness, it has been confirmed that two close friends and team members Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele have tragically passed away,” Matchroom Boxing said. The company added that Joshua sustained injuries in the accident and was taken to hospital for checks, noting that he was in a stable condition and would remain under observation.
Meet The Victims
Sina Ghami
Sina Ghami was Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach for over a decade and co-founder of Evolve Gym in London. A qualified sports and exercise rehabilitator, Ghami specialised in musculoskeletal injuries and corrective exercise. He had worked with athletes across multiple sports, including the NFL, NBA, and Michigan State University football team. BBC reports that Ghami frequently posted photos with Joshua on social media and had shared updates from Lagos shortly before the crash.
Latif “Latz” Ayodele
Latif Ayodele, known as Latz, was Joshua’s personal trainer. His social media pages reflected his passion for fitness and his devotion to Islam. Ayodele regularly shared photos with Joshua and was seen with the boxer just hours before the accident.
How The Crash Happened
As previously reported, the accident occurred around 11 a.m. at Makun, near the Danco Filling Station before the Sagamu Interchange inward Ibadan. Witnesses described the scene:
“It was a two-vehicle convoy: a Lexus SUV and a Pajero SUV. Joshua was seated behind the driver, with another person beside him. There was also a passenger sitting beside the driver, making four occupants in the Lexus that crashed. His security detail was in the vehicle behind them before the crash,” an eyewitness said.
He added that the passenger beside the driver and the occupant beside Joshua died instantly, while Joshua sustained minor injuries. Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) officials arrived shortly after and began rescue and investigation operations.
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Official Reactions
The Ogun State Police Command confirmed the crash, noting that two passengers died at the scene while Joshua and one other person were hospitalised. In a statement on X, the police said the deceased were taken to Livewell Hospital Morgue in Sagamu, and investigations into the incident have commenced.
The FRSC’s preliminary findings attributed the accident to excessive speed and wrongful overtaking, explaining that the Lexus SUV lost control before colliding with a stationary truck.
Born to British-Nigerian parents, Joshua attended boarding school in Ikenne, near the site of the accident. Fans and public figures have since poured in messages of condolence, while tributes continue to flood social media for Ghami and Ayodele.