The names of two of Anthony Joshua’s “close friends” who died in a Nigerian road crash in which the British boxer was injured have been released by his publicist.
Shina Gami and Latif Ayodele died in a traffic accident on a busy highway around noon on Monday.
They were both described as “integral members” of the boxer team.
Joshua, a former two-time world heavyweight champion, was riding in the back seat of a black Lexus in Makun, Ogun state, about 30 miles from the country’s largest city, Lagos, when he was struck by a truck and suffered minor injuries.
Gami and Ayodele were also passengers in the Lexus.
Officials said Joshua, 36, was taken to a hospital for treatment along with another injured person.
Joshua and the other survivor are described by authorities as being in “stable” condition.
Police are investigating the cause of the accident.
Anthony Joshua inside the car after the collision
Photo: @akinyemiabdulq1/X
“Shocking and devastating news”
“It is with the deepest sadness that we can confirm the deaths of Shina Gami and Kevin ‘Lateef’ Ayodele following a traffic accident in Lagos, Nigeria earlier today,” Joshua’s spokesperson said in a statement, naming the two people who died.
“Both were close friends and integral members of Anthony’s team. We respectfully ask that the family be given space and privacy at this time as they process this truly shocking and devastating news.”
Photo: @FRSCNigeria/X
Anthony Joshua was taken to hospital after the accident
Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu said on
“I prayed with him for his full and speedy recovery. AJ assured me he was receiving the best possible treatment.”
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing also confirmed the names of the victims in a statement on X, saying: “It is with deep sadness that we can confirm the tragic deaths of two close friends and team members, Sheena Gami and Latif Ayodele.”
Support from the boxing world
Former heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko, who retired from boxing after being knocked out by Joshua at Wembley Stadium in 2017, said he was “deeply saddened” by the incident.
“Having had the honor of having an unforgettable fight with AJ, I have always considered him a true top-notch guy for whom I have the utmost respect,” he posted on X.
“My heart goes out to him and I wish him and his loved ones well during this difficult time.”
Olympic silver medalist Amir Khan also wished Joshua a “speedy recovery” and said he was “very sad” to hear of the death of “two of my dearest sons”.
“May God give strength to their family and may Allah grant them the highest rank of Jannah,” he said on the social media site.
“This is so sad, may God give them a good rest in heaven,” Joshua’s long-time rival Tyson Fury said in an Instagram post.
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the accident occurred on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near Sagamu at around noon local time (11am UK time).
Joshua is on vacation in Africa after defeating American YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami just over a week ago.
Photo: @FRSCNigeria/X
How did the accident happen?
The FRSC said preliminary findings showed that the Lexus was “suspected to be traveling above the legal limit” and that it “lost control” while overtaking and collided with a truck parked on the shoulder of the road.
“The main causes of accidents are overspeeding and unreasonable overtaking, which are serious traffic violations and remain among the leading causes of fatal accidents on Nigeria’s highways,” the force said in X.
Boxer has Nigerian pedigree
The son of British-Nigerian parents, Joshua attended boarding school in Ikenne, about 80 miles from the scene of the accident, before returning to the UK at the age of 12.
Photos released by the FRSC show the wrecked Lexus that Joshua was riding in and the red Sino truck that crashed into it.
Footage posted on social media shows Britain’s former world heavyweight champion wincing in apparent pain as he is helped out of the rubble by a crowd.
Other clips show him wearing only his shorts as he gets into an emergency vehicle and is driven away from the scene.
The accident occurred just days after Joshua knocked out Jake Paul in the sixth round of their fight in Miami.
The fight marked the end of a 15-month hiatus for Joshua, who is scheduled to fight Fury in 2026.
