Ten days ago, Anthony Joshua was celebrating one of the biggest wins of his career. Today, he is mourning the loss of two men who helped build it.
The British boxing superstar survived a horrific car crash in Nigeria on December 29, 2025, but his close friends and team members Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele were not so fortunate. Both men died at the scene when their Lexus SUV slammed into a stationary truck on one of Nigeria’s most dangerous roads.
For anyone wondering why Anthony Joshua was even in Nigeria in the first place, the answer runs deeper than a holiday trip. This is the country that shaped him long before he ever laced up a pair of boxing gloves.
Why Anthony Joshua Was in Nigeria
Anthony Joshua was born in Watford, England on October 15, 1989, but his heart has always belonged to two countries. His parents, Yeta Odusanya and Robert Joshua, are both Nigerian with roots tracing back to the Yoruba people in the southwestern part of the country.
Joshua did not just visit Nigeria growing up. He actually lived there. As a young boy, he attended Mayflower School in Ikenne, Ogun State, spending his early years immersed in Nigerian culture before returning to England at age 12 when his parents divorced.
His family maintains a strong presence in Sagamu, a town in Ogun State where the Joshua name carries weight across multiple generations. In 2024, Joshua was even appointed the Ogun State Sports Ambassador, a title that recognized his ongoing commitment to his ancestral homeland.
The two-time heavyweight champion proudly wears his Nigerian heritage on his sleeve. Literally. He has a tattoo of the African continent on his right shoulder with Nigeria specifically outlined. He has entered the ring waving the Nigerian flag on multiple occasions throughout his career.
So when Joshua knocked out Jake Paul in Miami on December 19, 2025, his next move was obvious. He flew to Nigeria to spend time with extended family during what Nigerians call “Detty December,” the festive holiday season that draws millions of Nigerians home from around the world.
Joshua was heading to visit relatives in Sagamu for New Year celebrations when tragedy struck on the morning of December 29.
The Crash: What Happened on December 29
At approximately 11am local time, a black Lexus SUV carrying Anthony Joshua and three others was traveling along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. This highway connects Nigeria’s commercial capital Lagos to the city of Ibadan and is one of the busiest and most dangerous roads in the entire country.
According to the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Lexus struck a stationary truck near the town of Makun in Ogun State. Investigators believe the vehicle was traveling at excessive speed and suffered a tyre blowout during an overtaking manoeuvre, causing the driver to lose control.
Sina Ghami, Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach for over a decade, was killed instantly. Latif Ayodele, his personal trainer and close friend, also died at the scene. Both men were 36 years old, the same age as Joshua.
The driver, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, survived but was later hospitalized. Joshua himself escaped with minor injuries but was heard crying out in agony as rescuers extracted him from the wreckage.
A detail that emerged later makes the tragedy even more haunting. Joshua was originally sitting in the front passenger seat, but the driver asked him to switch to the back because his large frame was blocking the side mirror. Joshua moved to sit behind the driver. Ayodele then took the front seat. That seat swap may have saved Joshua’s life, but it cost his friend everything.
Timeline: From Hospital to Heartbreak
Here is everything that happened in the days following the crash:
December 29, 2025: The crash occurs around 11am on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway. Joshua is rushed to Lagoon Hospital in Lagos with minor injuries. Nigerian authorities confirm two fatalities. Video footage of Joshua being rescued from the wreckage circulates on social media.
December 30-31: Joshua remains hospitalized for observation. A joint statement from Lagos and Ogun state governments confirms both hospitalized patients are stable. Joshua and his mother visit a Lagos funeral home to pay respects to his fallen friends before their bodies are prepared for repatriation to the UK.
January 1, 2026: Joshua is discharged from hospital after receiving medical clearance to recover at home. Lagos state commissioner Gbenga Omotoso confirms the boxer has been released.
January 3: Joshua flies back to Britain on a private jet, landing at Stansted Airport. Meanwhile, in Nigeria, driver Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode appears before the Sagamu Magistrate Court. He faces four charges including causing death by dangerous driving. He pleads not guilty, with his lawyer claiming the brakes failed. Kayode is granted bail of 5 million naira (approximately £2,578) and the case is adjourned to January 20.
January 4: Funeral services for Ghami and Ayodele take place at the London Central Mosque. Hundreds of mourners attend. Joshua is present, looking somber as he hugs and consoles grieving family members.
January 5: Joshua breaks his silence with his first social media post since the crash. He uploads two photographs on Instagram showing himself alongside his mother and the families of the victims. One image shows him with Sanaz, the sister of Sina Ghami, who is holding a photograph of her late brother. The mothers of both victims appear in the picture along with Joshua’s own mother, Yeta Odusanya. His caption reads simply: “My Brothers Keeper.”
The Men Behind the Champion
To understand the depth of this loss, you need to understand who Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele were to Anthony Joshua.
Ghami served as Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach for over ten years. He was not just someone who helped Joshua lift weights. He was a trusted member of the inner circle who traveled the world with the boxer, preparing his body for the biggest fights of his career.
Ayodele, known as “Latz,” was Joshua’s personal trainer and one of his closest friends. The two had built a bond that extended far beyond professional obligations.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, paid tribute to both men on Instagram: “Rest in peace Latz and Sina. Your energy and loyalty, among so many other great qualities, will be deeply missed. Praying for strength and guidance for all their family, friends and of course AJ during this very difficult time.”
A source close to Joshua told reporters: “AJ is fiercely loyal to his friends and their families and will be there for them for the rest of their lives.”
What Happens Next for Anthony Joshua
Before the crash, Joshua was riding high. His knockout victory over Jake Paul on December 19 had reignited talk of a potential blockbuster showdown against fellow British heavyweight Tyson Fury in 2026. Some reports suggested a February return to the ring was being discussed.
Now everything is uncertain.
Joshua has not publicly addressed his boxing future since the accident. The physical injuries he sustained were minor, but the emotional wounds run much deeper. Losing two pillars of his training camp, two men who understood the daily grind of preparing for world championship fights, cannot be replaced overnight.
Nigeria’s road safety record has also come under renewed scrutiny following the crash. The Federal Road Safety Corps reported 5,421 deaths in 9,570 accidents across the country in 2024, an increase of 340 fatalities from the previous year. The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, where the crash occurred, has long been considered one of the most hazardous routes in Nigeria.
For now, Anthony Joshua is focused on what matters most. Not belts, not opponents, not legacy. He is focused on being there for the families who lost loved ones in that terrible moment on a Nigerian highway.
His three-word Instagram caption said it all. My Brothers Keeper.
That phrase comes from the Bible, representing a moral obligation to look after others. For Joshua, it is more than a caption. It is a promise.