Anthony Joshua Shares First Public Message After Fatal Accident Involving Two Close Associates

Former two-time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has made his initial public statement since a devastating car accident in Nigeria led to the deaths of two members of his team. On Sunday, Joshua posted a photo on Instagram showing him seated on a couch alongside his mother and three women, one of whom held a framed photograph on her lap. The image was captioned simply as “My Brothers Keeper” accompanied by two heart emojis, underscoring the personal loss he endured. According to reports from British media outlets on Saturday, Joshua has returned to the United Kingdom in preparation for the funerals of Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, both of whom passed away in the fatal collision. The funerals reportedly took place on Sunday. Ghami, who served as Joshua's strength and conditioning coach, and Ayodele, one of his trainers, were traveling with Joshua when their vehicle collided with a stationary truck on a major roadway near Lagos earlier in the week. The crash occurred on Monday and resulted in the immediate deaths of Ghami and Ayodele. Joshua himself sustained only minor injuries and was released from medical care on Wednesday after assessments confirmed he was capable of continuing his recovery at home. Social media posts shared prior to the accident showed Joshua and Ayodele engaging in casual leisure activities, such as playing table tennis, highlighting the close personal and professional relationship between the boxer and his staff. The driver of the vehicle, identified as Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, has since been formally charged with dangerous and reckless driving in connection to the incident. His court proceeding was scheduled for trial on January 20, following an adjournment announced on Friday. Joshua maintains strong connections to Nigeria, having attended boarding school in the country during his youth and holding Nigerian citizenship in addition to his British nationality. Amidst these personal developments, the heavyweight boxing scene remains active. On Sunday, Tyson Fury, another former heavyweight world champion, revealed his return from retirement. This announcement has fueled speculation about a possible match between Fury and Joshua, though the latter has not publicly addressed his plans regarding future matches at this time. The tragedy touches on broader concerns about road infrastructure and safety in Nigeria, issues brought into sharp relief by the fatal crash that affected key figures within Joshua's training operation. The incident also introduces an element of uncertainty regarding Joshua's career trajectory and upcoming activities within the sport.