▪️Cameroon have seven, Congo Brazzaville six, Zambia, Cape Verde and Senegal four each

▪️Highlights on the first day: David Pina vs Kolongo Bakora and Rady Gramane vs Ivanusa Moreira

October 29, 2026

Hosts Democratic Republic of Congo have thrown down a massive statement of intent at the ongoing Africa Elite Boxing Championships, loading a spectacular 18 boxers into the finals at Kinshasa’s Stade des Martyrs.

With 10 women and eight men punching their way to the ultimate stage, the hosts have made their intentions fiercely clear. After agonizingly finishing as runners-up in both 2023 and 2024, DR Congo is single-mindedly targeting the overall continental crown on home soil.

The local crowd will get an immediate taste of the action on day one of the finals, where 12 of the home nation’s 18 finalists will step into the ring. Highlighting the opening session are eight formidable Congolese women, including two reigning champions looking to defend their thrones: minimumweight sensation Benedicte Diyoka faces Congo-Brazzaville’s Ndoudi Doudou, while light-welterweight Mbalayi Mbamba goes toe-to-toe with Senegal’s Maimouna Ka.

While the hosts dominate the final brackets, Cameroon sits a distant second with seven finalists. Neighboring Congo-Brazzaville has secured six final spots, followed by Zambia, Cape Verde, and Senegal with four each. Mozambique brings two fighters to the finals, while Botswana, Angola, Uganda, and Mauritius remain in the hunt with one finalist apiece.

The opening day’s undercard also promises blockbuster semifinal action. In a clash of titans, Cape Verde’s Olympic bronze medalist David Pina takes on DR Congo’s own Kolongo Bakora. Meanwhile, Cape Verdean Olympian Ivanusa Moreira faces a monumental test against Mozambique’s decorated two-time African champion, Rady Gramane.

▪️This eagerly awaited showdown is one of the highlights in the exciting IBA Africa Elite Championships finals

October 29, 2026

For the last two years, DR Congo’s reigning Africa flyweight champion, Nyembo Gisele, has traded fierce verbal jabs with Cameroon’s reserved and quiet Reine Laure Ngoune.

Nyembo is spoiling for a fight, claiming she was robbed of victory at the 2023 Africa Elite Championships finals in Yaounde. Ngoune has poured cold water on the allegation, insisting she beat the big-talking DR Congo boxer hands down.

Now, the grudge rematch is finally happening this Saturday, October 31, at the Stade Des Martyrs in the finals of the 2026 Africa Elite Boxing Championships.

This is a fierce personal grudge rematch.Two two rivals were the only fighters entered by their respective countries in the flyweight class.

The Grudge Rematch

Female Flyweight: Nyembo Gisele (DRC) vs. Reine Laure Ngoune (CMR)

There’s pure bad blood between the two boxers.

Gisele, a relentless slugger, has the home Kinshasa crowd behind her, but Ngoune is coming to silence the arena in a deeply personal clash where defense will be optional. Ngoune will rely on her ring IQ against the DR Congo punching machine.

Speed & Precision

Bantamweight: David Pina (Cape Verde) vs. Kolongo Bakora (DRC)

It’s a battle of lightning-fast counters vs. relentless volume.

Cape Verde’s Olympic star Pina brings world-class pedigree and ring craftsmanship but Bakora is fighting with the ferocious hunger of a hometown hero looking for a career-defining upset.

Technical chess match

Featherweight: Mwengo Mwale (Zambia) vs. Amadu Mohamed

(Ghana)

This is a classic Southern Africa vs. West Africa boxing rivalry.

Mwale’s non-stop aggression and slick footwork will go head-to-head against Mohamed’s trademark Ghanaian power and aggression using southpaw stance and ring acumen to his advantage.

Pure Fireworks

Light-welterweight: Njibu Njibu (DRC) vs. Admolson Kevin (Cape Verde)

A total phone-booth war.

Both fighters love to stand their ground and trade leather. Njibu’s raw power will test Kevin’s chin in a bout that is highly unlikely to need the judges’ scorecards.

Female Middleweight: Ivanusa Moreira (Cape Verde) vs. Rady Gramane (Mozambique)

This is a clash of titans.

Gramane is a decorated continental icon while Moreira brings elite tactical versatility and craftiness. This is a tactical bout to be executed with massive power behind every shot.

The Heavy Hitters

Light-heavyweight: Brandone Ngon A Ngon (CMR) vs. Odzoua Reche (CGO)

This will be a bruising, physical, and unforgiving war. A Central African derby where every single punch carries knockout intent. Ngon A Ngon wants to bully his opponent, but Reche’s counter-punching could turn the lights out early. He must however be ready to absorb Ngon’s energy-sapping body shots that could see him make several trips to the canvas.

Kabeji’s farewell

Heavyweight: Pita Kabeji (DRC) vs. Ebong Emmy Abel (Uganda)

The ultimate heavyweight collision. DRC’s star champion Kabeji looks to assert total dominance in front of his fans and make history by becoming the first ever boxer to win gold for times in a row in the African Championships, and then move to the paid ranks. Standing in his way is the dangerous, heavy-handed Abel, who needs just one lucky punch to ruin the party. Unless Kabeji pulls a muscle by bad luck, the Ugandan has his work cut out.

KINSHASA, DR Congo — Namibia’s 2024 African light-heavyweight silver medalist, Gebhard Ipinge, has laid the blame for his defeat squarely on his coaching corner, claiming their tactical advice led him straight into a losing battle against Cameroon’s hard-hitting Brandon Ngon A Ngon.

Exhibiting his trademark relaxed demeanor despite the setback, Ipinge spoke to boxersworld.co.ke at the Africa Elite Boxing Championships. He revealed that his trainers were fully aware of the Cameroonian Zone 3 champion’s devastating punching power, yet inexplicably instructed him to adopt a rigid, stationary approach in the ring.

“The coaches advised me not to move a lot, even though they knew he hits incredibly hard,” a frustrated Ipinge explained.

Instead of utilizing footwork to evade the incoming barrage, I pinge was told to box flat-footed—a strategy that effectively turned him into a sitting duck for Ngon, who is known for “throwing stones” with his heavy hands.

The tactical misstep proved costly against the relentless Cameroonian power-puncher, whose sophisticated body-punching repertoire has been tearing through the light-heavyweight division throughout the tournament. Prior to the bout, Iipinge had even been seen kneeling in prayer on the ring apron, asking for protection against the dangerous puncher—a testament to the known threat Ngon posed.

Despite the disappointment of having his championship dreams derailed by poor ringside instructions, the Namibian silver medalist remains resilient about his future in the sport.

“Each loss is a learning experience,” Impinge reflected, looking ahead to rebuilding and refining his approach on the drawing board.

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▪️Cameroon have six in finals, Congo and Senegal three each and Zambia two

▪️ Olympic hero David Pina vs DR Congo’s Kolongo Bakora in epic final as Pita Kabeji starts his campaign for fourth gold medal

▪️Zambia on top of their game, Rady, Moreira in action today, Catherine warns Chloe in their rematch while Ugandan “rebels” clinch two bronzes and are assured of two more medals

▪️Two Ghanaian boxers Amadu Mohamed and Joseph Commey poised for final

October 28, 2026

Host nation Democratic Republic of the Congo (DR Congo) has stamped its authority on the ongoing 2026 IBA Africa Elite Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championships, establishing a commanding lead with 10 boxers already through to the finals at the Stade des Martyrs Gymnasium in Kinshasa.

Tuesday’s opening round of semifinal action provided another spectacular demonstration of Congolese boxing strength. Eight home fighters entered the ring, and six emerged victorious, much to the delight of their passionate supporters.

Spearheaded by formidable middleweight David Tshama, the Congolese squad delivered an impressive display of skill, determination and fighting spirit. The six semifinal winners join four teammates who had already secured direct passage to the finals through the tournament draw.

🇨🇩 DR Congo: Ten finalists and still counting

One of Tuesday’s biggest sensations came from minimumweight Bofenda Mabala, who produced a remarkable upset by eliminating Cameroon’s defending champion, Wouang Marcial.

Mabala and Tshama were joined in the winners’ circle by female welterweight Bampala Kanyinda, light-heavyweight Malewe Tekasala, bantamweight Kolongo Bakora, and cruiserweight Mbangui Mukiewa.

However, the hosts did not emerge completely unscathed. Welterweight Ilunga Masuasua and super-heavyweight Eno Mukwasa suffered defeats, denying DR Congo a clean sweep.

The Congolese charge is far from over. Another 12 home boxers are scheduled to compete in Wednesday’s second semifinal session, led by team captain Pita Kabeji, who steps up to the heavyweight division with expectations riding high to win an unprecedented fourth gold medal in a row in the Africa Elite Championships.

🇨🇲 Cameroon keeps the pressure on with six finalists!

Cameroon remains DR Congo’s closest challenger, having already secured six places in the finals.

Of the five Cameroonian boxers who competed on Tuesday, three recorded victories while two bowed out.

Among those advancing was Zacharie Mvogo, the 2023 African super-heavyweight champion, whose commanding performance strengthened Cameroon’s medal ambitions.

Mvogo’s qualification adds to the three Cameroonian female boxers who had already secured final berths.

With another six Cameroonian fighters scheduled for Wednesday’s semifinals, the contest for continental supremacy remains wide open.

🇨🇬 Congo Brazzaville: Three finalists and more opportunities ahead

Across the Congo River, neighbouring Congo Brazzaville endured mixed fortunes, registering two victories against three defeats during Tuesday’s action.

The two successful semifinalists join minimumweight Ndoudi Doudou Doudou, who is preparing for a mouthwatering championship showdown against DR Congo’s defending champion, Benedicte Diyoka.

With three finalists already confirmed and five additional boxers scheduled to compete, Congo Brazzaville still has an opportunity to strengthen its position.

🇸🇳 Senegal’s Balde Oumar continues his sensational run

Senegal also experienced contrasting fortunes, recording one victory and two defeats in Tuesday’s semifinals.

However, the country’s brightest moment belonged to lightweight sensation Balde Oumar, whose impressive victory over Angola’s Matomona Jonilsory further cemented his reputation as one of the championship’s outstanding revelations.

Oumar’s qualification raises Senegal’s finalist tally to three, alongside light-heavyweight Diagne Aminata and heavyweight Cisse Khadidiatou, the accomplished bronze medallist from the 2024 African Championships.

🏆 The race for African boxing supremacy heats up

Following Tuesday’s opening semifinal session, the confirmed finalist standings among these four nations are:

🥇 🇨🇩 DR Congo — 10 finalists

🥈 🇨🇲 Cameroon — 6 finalists

🥉 🇨🇬 Congo Brazzaville — 3 finalists

🥉 🇸🇳 Senegal — 3 finalists

These figures could change dramatically after Wednesday’s remaining semifinal contests.

The BIG question: Can Cameroon close the gap against the high-riding DR Congo?

With the national pride at stake and Africa’s finest boxing talents battling for continental glory, Kinshasa is rapidly becoming the epicentre of African boxing excellence.

The writing is already on the wall: There’s no stopping DR Congo in their quest for glory.

Kudos to Zambia. With only four boxers remaining in the tournament following the controversial doctor stoppage defeat of Emmanuel Katema, two of the Zambian boxers Albert Ngulube and Gerald Kabinda punched their way to the finals, and are likely to be joined by female bantamweight Catherine Mwape and featherweight Mwengo Mwale.

A final showdown looms between Mwale and Ghana’s African Games champion Amadu Mohammed.

Amadu and light-welterweight Joseph Commey will be in the squared circle today with the former squaring out with Namibia’s Imene Elifas while Commey meets Cape Verde’s Admolson Kevin.

Hats off to the Ugandans. They’re returning home with four medals. They’ve clinched two bronzes following losses suffered by middleweight Nsanba Ronaldo and cruiserweight Ronnie Wandera. The remaining two are in action today with female lightweight Sarah Katongole battling DR Congo’s Munga Zulia.

In all, there will be 10 female bouts today. Cape Verde’s Olympian Ivanusa Moreira returns to the ring while two-time Africa champion Rady Gramane is also in the mix; so will be Botswana’s Trecier Thipe, making her debut for the national team.

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▪️Cape Verde place 6 in semis, Senegal 5, Zambia, Namibia and Uganda 4 each
▪️Plus today’s semifinal schedule and Monday’s quarterfinal results

October 26, 2026

Host nation DR Congo has sent a thunderous warning shot across the continent, landing a staggering 20 boxers—12 men and eight women—into the semifinals of the Africa Elite Boxing Championships at Kinshasa’s Stade des Martyrs.

The first semi-finals featuring
17 bouts take place today, October 26, from 2pm local time here in Kinshasa which is two hours behind East Africa’s time.

After twice tasting heartbreak as runners-up in 2023 and 2024, the hosts have made a ruthless statement of intent to capture their first-ever championship crown. They have left the competition scrambling in their wake.

Cameroon sits a distant second with 11 semifinalists, followed by Congo Brazzaville 10, Cape Verde 6, Senegal 5 including two female boxers in the finals, Namibia, Zambia and Uganda 4 each, Botswana and Angola 3 each, Ghana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique 2 each with the latter having two-time Africa champion Alcinda Dos Santos already in the finals.

DR Congo’s dominance doesn’t stop there. They have already locked in four female fighters straight into the finals. Three are fierce defending champions looking to retain their thrones: minimumweight Benedicte Diyoka, flyweight Nyembo Gisele, and light-welterweight Mbalayi Mbamba. Joining them is heavyweight Tshimwanga Sulamite, the reigning 2025 Africa Zone 3 champion.

The blockbuster action ignites today with eight DR Congo warriors stepping into the ring. Middleweight star David Tshama leads the charge in tough battle against Senegal’s Allasane BA.

Meanwhile, a fierce local rivalry takes center stage as light-heavyweight Malewu Tekasala clashes with Congo Brazzaville’s Nkova Ngoly. Whenever these neighboring nations meet across the river, the intensity hits boiling point—it’s a boxing ring battle fought with the passion of a border dispute.

For neutral fans, the day features two explosive, can’t-miss highlights. First, a bantamweight cracker pits Cape Verde’s Olympic bronze medalist David Pina against Namibia’s Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Philip Haoseb.

There’s Namibia’s Commonwealth Games silver medalist Tryagain Ndevelo going toe-to-toe with Zambia’s African Games bronze medalist Albert Ngulube in a true clash of titans.

▪️Exit Armando, Amadu advances, Mwengo moves on, Ndevelo vs Ebenezer in fight of the day, Cape Verde star Moreira in semis, Pina in the mix and DR Congo crowd favourite Tshama starts his title defence

October 26, 2026

KINSHASA, DR Congo — Spectacular action, accidental headclash, and close decisions lit up the ring at the ongoing Africa Elite Boxing Championships, where the continent’s finest warriors secured their spots in the semifinals.

Cameroon’s reigning Africa Zone 3 champion, Brandon Ngon A Ngon, stole the show with a superb display in modern prizefighting. Exhibiting a sophisticated and relentless repertoire of body punching, Ngon destroyed Senegal’s Allasane KA. The light-heavyweight encounter was brought to a crashing halt in the second round, sending a clear warning shot to the rest of the division.

Ngon now marches into a blockbuster semifinal showdown against Namibia’s 2024 silver medalist, Gebhard Ipinge, who earned his spot by outpointing Angola’s Tchitoma Joaquim.

On his way out of squared circle, Ipinge knelt in prayer on the apron of the ring asking the Almighty to protect him against the dangerous Cameroonian.

While Ngon provided the fireworks, the fight of the day ended in heartbreak. The featherweight between Ghana’s Amadu Mohammed and Mozambique’s Armando Sigauque—highly billed as the Fight of the Day—crumbled into an unfortunate anti-climax.

Just minutes into the first round, an accidental clash of heads opened a severe gash above Sigauque’s right eye, forcing an immediate stoppage. Amadu cruised into the semifinals via the injury, where Namibia’s stubborn and durable Imene Elifas awaits him.

Hovering over the featherweight division is Zambia’s world championship quarterfinalist, Mwengo Mwale who looked absolutely terrifying, needing less than one round to stop Malawi’s Ledson Patson.

Immediately after the referee waved off the bout, Mwale fired a psychological missile across the bracket, warning Ghana’s Amadu to prepare for the fight of his life should they meet in the final, claiming Amadu lucky in their last meeting in Accra. First, however, Mwale must get past local favorite Modi Mbonza of the DR Congo in a hostile semifinal environment.

The light-welterweight division treated fans to a pure tactical war. Ghana’s reigning African Games champion, Joseph Commey, was pushed to his absolute limits by a spirited Loulendo Merci of Congo. Commey was forced to dig deep, ultimately squeezing out a grueling 5-2 victory on bout review points. The Ghanaian technician now advances to meet Cape Verde’s dangerous Admolson Kevin in the semis, while the other side of the bracket features an absolute collision course between DR Congo’s Njibu Njibu Beni and Angola’s Fernando Ntima.

In the minimumweight division, Botswana’s Zone 4 king Kobamelo Molatlhego put on a boxing clinic. Molatlhego hammered Congo’s Ngassaki Ngosaba in a shutout 5-0 dominant decision. His reward is a semifinal date with Zimbabwe’s Blessing Sibanda.

Meanwhile, Cameroon’s reigning African minimumweight champion Wouang Marcial clashes with DR Congo’s Bofenda Mabala in the semis.

And Zambia’s Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Catherine Mwape has warned Mauritian Chloe Gabriel to expect thorough beating in their big rematch following Chloe’s demolition of helpless Burundi’s Liliane Nshimirimana in the quarters. Cape Verde’s most successful female boxer Ivanusa Moreira marched on to the semis hammering Congo’s Nkokolo Lembe and now meets DR Congo’s Mvamba Benedicte.

The drama is only getting started in Kinshasa. A galaxy of African boxing royalty takes center stage next in today’s quarterfinal bouts. Fans will witness Olympic bronze medalist David Pina, double African champion David Tshama, Namibia’s lethal Tryagain Ndevelo battling Ghana’s Ankrah Ebenezer, Zambia’s Albert Ngulube, and Botswana’s elite duo of Treasure Moremi and Pooana Khoahli all put their championship dreams on the line.

▪️The host lead with 15 semi-finalists so far and four finalists Benedicte Diyoka, Nyembo Gisele, Mbalayi Mbamba and Tshimwanga Sulamite
▪️Cameroon breathing down the neck of DR Congo with 12 semi-finalists boosted by three finalists Nicola Moudjongue, Loura Ngoune Reine and Paule Ngono
▪️With the two Central Africa countries chewing their own cake, the rest are scrambling for leftovers

October 26, 2026

KINSHASA, DR Congo — The battle lines are officially drawn, and the ring is firing on all cylinders at the 2026 IBA Africa Elite Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championships.

Host nation Democratic Republic of the Congo has laid down a massive marker with an impressive 15 semifinalists led by eight women and seven men.

The home crowd inside the capital has plenty to roar about, with four Congolese fighters already punching their tickets straight to the finals. Leading the golden charge are defending champions, minimumweight Benedicte Diyoka, flyweight Nyembo Gisele and light-welterweight Mbalayi Mbamba alongside heavyweight Tshimwanga Sulamite.

But it is far from a one-nation show.

Cameroon are hot on their heels, invading the later rounds with 12 semifinalists of their own (five men and seven women) with five in today’s quarterfinals.

In a fierce display of tactical dominance, the Central African country has already guaranteed three finalists—an all-female trio ready to spoil the Congolese party. They are light-flyweight Nicola Moudjongue, flyweight Loura Ngouone Reine and featherweight Paule Ngono.

The drama is only getting started. With today’s quarterfinal bouts, the medal architecture is shifting by the hour.

Expect the semi-final grid to lock in soon as more elite fighters from across the 28 participating nations punch their way onto the podium.

War is war!!!

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▪️ *Punching with immense authority and dedication, Nduwarugira subjected his Libyan opponent to two standing counts*

October 25, 2026

Burundi’s Nestor Nduwarugira made a loud statement at the 2026 Africa Elite Boxing Championships in Kinshasa, securing a ruthless stoppage victory over Libya’s Mohammed Saeid Othman.

The 2024 continental silver medalist left no doubt about his intentions to upgrade to gold this year.

Punching with immense authority and dedication, Nduwarugira subjected his Libyan opponent to two standing counts. The onslaught left Othman bleeding profusely from the nose, prompting the referee to halt the bout.

“When I noticed I had hurt him on the nose, I continued punching the same target,” Nduwarugira told boxersworld.co.ke. “Any boxer who understands the tricks of the game would have done the same.”

The victory did not come without a brief scare. Before forcing the stoppage, an overconfident Nduwarugira let his guard down and was staggered for an eight count. He quickly recovered his composure to finish the job.

Nduwarugira now advances to the quarterfinals on Monday, October 26, where he will trade leather with Congo’s Miere Ngalekani. After missing out on the top prize by a whisper in 2024—losing a tactical battle to Kenya’s Boniface “The Hammer” Mogunde—the Burundian star is laser-focused on bringing home the gold.

▪️ Pas de danse Fimbu et rythmes de boxe : Kinshasa vibre au rythme de ses supporters

25 octobre 2026

Beta libumu ! (frappe au ventre !)

Le rugissement déchire le gymnase comble du Stade des Martyrs, porté par une vague de tambours battants et de fanfares cuivrées. Le champion d’Afrique en titre des mi-lourds, Nlandu Mbeli Nathan, l’entend. Il se nourrit de ce son et déclenche une combinaison dévastatrice qui repousse le Tchadien Sindigue Baglong contre les cordes.

Nous sommes le 24 octobre, en huitièmes de finale des Championnats d’Afrique de boxe élite hommes et femmes, et Kinshasa est en feu !!
Dans le coin, l’entraîneur principal Baoba Ilunga et le directeur technique national Toussaint Lofalanga sont debout, leurs voix perçant ce chaos dynamique. Ils veulent un arrêt. Ils veulent que ça se termine avant la limite. Mbeli s’exécute avec une précision brutale et magnifique, stoppant net son adversaire tchadien au deuxième round.
L’arène explose.

Mbeli se tourne vers les tribunes où sont assis ses coéquipiers. Il croise leur regard et se lance dans le fimbu — la danse de la chicotte rendue célèbre par les Léopards, l’équipe nationale de football de la RD Congo. La foule imite ses pas, formant une mer de hanches synchronisées et de sourires extatiques.

Dans la capitale incontestée de la musique africaine, le rythme n’est pas un simple passe-temps. C’est une arme, une célébration et un mode de vie.

Par deux fois, la couronne continentale globale leur a échappé, glissant entre leurs doigts en 2023 et 2024. Mais cette année, le rouleau compresseur congolais semble instoppable, porté par une arène qui respire à chaque direct et à chaque crochet.

Et le plus terrifiant pour le reste du continent ? Les armes les plus létales de la RD Congo sont à peine montées sur le ring.
La charge sera menée par le triple champion Pita Kabeji. Passé chez les lourds, Kabeji est en quête d’un quatrième titre africain consécutif sans précédent. Son aventure commence le 28 octobre face au Camerounais Ebony Emmy Abel.

Derrière lui se tient une armée de grands noms de la boxe qui attendent leur signal : le double champion des poids moyens David Tshama, la force des super-légers Mbalayi Mbamba qui vise sa deuxième couronne africaine, et la championne des poids lourds de la Zone 3 Afrique 2025, Tshimwanga Sulamite. À cela s’ajoute l’énergie explosive de Munga Zalia et la sensation des poids coqs, Kolongo Bakora.

Pendant ce temps, la course à l’or est déjà lancée. La championne en titre des poids pailles Bénédicte Diyoka et la reine des poids mouches Nyembo Gisèle ont déjà décroché leur billet directement pour la finale, puisqu’elles ne sont que deux dans leurs catégories respectives.
Les tambours continuent de résonner.

Les supporters continuent de danser. Au Stade des Martyrs, le message adressé au reste de l’Afrique est d’une clarté assourdissante : les Léopards ont faim, la musique résonne, et le fimbu est prêt.

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▪️Fimbu jigs and boxing rhythms: Kinshasa grooves to a fan-powered beat

October 25, 2026

Beta libumu! (punch the stomach!)

The roar tears through the packed Stade des Martyrs Gym, riding a wave of thumping drums and brassy fanfares. Defending African light-heavyweight champion Nlandu Mbeli Nathan hears it. He leans into the sound, unleashing a devastating combination that pounds Chad’s Sindigue Baglong back against the ropes.

This is the round of 16 at the African Elite Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championships on October 24, and Kinshasa is on fire!!

In the corner, head coach Baoba Ilunga and National Technical Director Toussaint Lofalanga are on their feet, their voices cutting through the dynamic chaos. They want a stoppage. They want it inside the distance. Mbeli obliges with brutal, beautiful precision, stopping his Chadian opponent cold in the second round.

The arena explodes.

Mbeli turns to the stands where his teammates are seated. He locks eyes with them and breaks into the fimbu—the whipping dance jig made famous by the Leopards, the DR Congo national football team. The crowd mirrors his steps, a sea of synchronized hips and ecstatic grins.

In Africa’s undisputed music capital, rhythm is not just a pastime. It is a weapon, a celebration, and a way of life.

Twice the overall continental crown has eluded them, slipping away in 2023 and 2024. But this year, the Congolese juggernaut feels unstoppable, fueled by an arena that breathes with every jab and hook.

And the terrifying part for the rest of the continent? DR Congo’s most lethal weapons have barely even stepped into the ring.

The charge will be led by three-time champion Pita Kabeji. Moving up to heavyweight, Kabeji is hunting an unprecedented fourth consecutive African title. His quest begins on October 28 against Cameroon’s Ebony Emmy Abel.

Behind him stands an army of boxing royalty waiting for their cue two-time middleweight champion David Tshama, light-welterweight force Mbalayi Mbamba chasing her second African crown, and 2025 Africa Zone 3 heavyweight champion Tshimwanga Sulamite. Add to that the explosive energy of Munga Zalia and bantamweight sensation Kolongo Bakora.

Meanwhile, the gold rush is already on. Defending minimumweight champion Bénédicte Diyoka and flyweight queen Nyembo Gisèle have already punched their tickets straight to the finals since they’re only two of them in their respective categories.

The drums continue to beat. The fans continue to dance. At the Stade des Martyrs, the message to the rest of Africa is deafeningly clear: the Leopards are hungry, the music is playing, and the fimbu is ready.