▪️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.

▪️Mozambican Armando Sigauque regards Ghana’s Amadu Mohamed as an intruder

▪️Ivanusa Moreira moves up to middleweight; likely to face Rady Gramane in the finals

▪️Jaguar on the prowl: Joseph Commey favoured for the gold

▪️Redemption or ruin? Chloe Gabriel favoured to gun down Nshimirimana to set up Mwape rematch

▪️DR Congo’s Nlandu could face Namibia’s Ipinge in the finals again

▪️Plus today’s quarterfinal bouts and Saturdays full results

October 25, 2026

The stage is set, the tension is palpable, and the stakes could not be higher.

It’s now or never! The 2026 Africa Elite Boxing Championships explode into the quarter-finals today, October 25, 2026, with a stacked card of 22 high-octane fights.

As regional prides and personal vendettas collide in the ring, here is how the most thrilling matchups shape up for a historic day of leather-throwing action.

The Ultimate Collision: Sigauque vs. Mohammed

The undisputed bout of the day belongs to the men’s featherweight division. It is a classic clash of styles, egos, and territory:

• The Rivalry: Mozambique’s African Games silver medallist and 2022 Africa champion Armando Sigauque views Ghana’s Amadu Mohammed as an outright intruder. Mohammed, the celebrated African Games champion and Commonwealth Games bronze medallist, has boldly stepped up from bantamweight to stake his claim in the featherweight yard.

Expect a toe-to-toe exchange in this bout of the day.

• The Dynamic: This is a pure battle between a hard-nosed fighter and an elusive boxer. Expect fists to fly and fireworks to explode in an absolute thriller that has all the ingredients of a classic.

Rising Tension in the female bouts

The women’s divisions feature two pivotal bouts loaded with tournament-altering implications:

• Bantamweight battle: Mauritian star Chloe Gabriel takes on Burundi’s Lilliane Nshimirimana. Gabriel enters as the favorite, driven by the burning desire for a redemption arc. If she wins, she sets up a blockbuster October 28 semifinal rematch with Zambia’s Catherine Mwape—the very woman who knocked her out of the Commonwealth Games quarter-finals in Glasgow.

• The Return of the champion: Cape Verde’s formidable 2023 Africa welterweight champion, Ivanusa Moreira, makes her highly anticipated return after a three-year hiatus in the continental event. Moving up to middleweight, she faces Congo’s Nkokolo Lembe today. The prize for the victor? A semifinal date with DR Congo’s Benedicte Mvamba on October 28. Analysts are already whispering about a dream final between Moreira and Mozambique’s two-time Africa champion, Rady Gramane, who sits waiting in the semis.

Contenders and defending kings

The rest of the card is a minefield of regional rivalries and champions defending their crowns:

• The clear path to gold: Ghana’s African Games champion Joseph “Jaguar” Commey has moved up to light-welterweight. He is heavily favored to eliminate Congo’s Loulendo Merci today. With the division blown wide open after a highly controversial ringside doctor’s decision ruled out Zambia’s world bronze medalist Emmanuel Katema, Commey is now the roaring favorite for gold.

• Defending titleholders: Cameroon’s minimumweight king Wouang Marcial puts his legacy on the line against Mauritius’s Soupprayen Mathieu. Meanwhile, DR Congo’s light-heavyweight powerhouse Nlandu Mbeli Nathan is set to trade leather with Sierra Leone’s Bafor Tamba.

• Regional warfare: Zambia’s world quarter-finalist Mwengo Mwale locks horns with close neighbor Ledson Patson, while Namibia’s 2024 Africa silver medallist Gebhard Ipinge goes toe-to-toe with Angola’s Tchitoma Lukengo. Ipinge and Nlandu could meet in the final again like it happened in 2024.

Meanwhile eight thrilling welterweight bouts were the highlight in Saturdays (October 24) pulsating round of 16 bouts with DR Congo leading the way by putting three boxers in the quarter-finals. Cameroon and Zimbabwe had two each with Eswatini’s Thabiso Dlamini once again failing to advance to the medal bracket.

Making his third appearance in the African Elite Championships, Thabiso lost on bout review decision 5-2 to Ndziki Ngatoum of Congo Brazzaville at welter.

“I’m so disappointed in the judging because everyone in the stadium congratulated me on displaying good boxing so those words motivated to work even harder, dreams delayed are not dreams denied,” Thabiso told boxersworld.co.ke.

“This is demotivating when you do everything then something like this happens but we go to the drawing board we will come back stronger.”

DR Congo’s defending light-heavyweight champion Nlandu Mbeli Nathan was in a ruthless mood, stopping Chad’s Sindigue Baglong in the second round.

Nlandu’s compatriots, welterweight Ilunga Musuasua and light-middleweight Disasu Yenge also cruised to the quarters with the former getting a walkoveri against Gabon’s Mathanga Ignoungou while Disasu outpointed Mali’s Diallo Bakari 5-2 bout review decision in the most entertaining fight of the day.

Elsewhere, Zambia’s African Games welterweight champion Gerald Kabinda advanced to the quarters with a dominant points win over Angola’s Luzolo Inoque, and now meets Mali’s Fousseyni Traore.

Uganda’s Lukwago Sadick beat Senegal’s Diop Papa Mor with mixed fortunes for Lesotho and two Libyan boxers falling by the wayside.

Lesotho’s Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Pooana Khoahli punched his way to the quarters but his compatriot Thai Refiloe lost to Zimbabwe’s Ndlovu Christian via a first round knockout.

Burundi’s light-middleweight Africa silver medallist Nestor Nduwarugira stopped Libya’s Mohammad Saeid in the second round. Nestor now meets Miere Ngalekani of Congo in the quarters.

▪️Mind games, hidden strategies and blood feuds take center stage at the Stade des Martyrs

October 24, 2026

The canvas is smoking in Kinshasa. Day two of the African Elite Boxing Championships has brewed a cocktail of potentially explosive quarterfinal matchups, turning the lightweight division into an absolute cracker.

THE LIGHTWEIGHT POWDER KEG: TRYAGAIN NDEVELO VS. ANKRAH EBENEZER

The marquee matchup on Monday features Namibia’s Commonwealth Games silver medalist Tryagain Ndevelo stepping into the ring for the fight of his life against Ghana’s sensational prodigy, Ankrah Ebenezer.

Ndevelo punched his ticket to the quarterfinals by outsmarting DR Congo’s home slugger, Badibanga Bamanyama, in his usual tactical approach.

While his corner screamed for him to go flat out and trade leather, the 2024 African featherweight king chose a surgical approach.

“I decided to box him using my jab followed by snapping combinations, keeping my distance,” Ndevelo revealed. The blueprint worked flawlessly, forcing two standing counts.

“I tried very hard to get that third count because it would have forced a stoppage, but I’ll take the win.”

With thunderous cheers of dancing DR Congo fans, Badibanga staged a late rally in the third round staggering Ndevelo for an eight count but it was too late. Ndevelo had done the spadework in the first and second rounds.

“He caught me against the ropes, he’s strong but I knew the fight was mine, I always do my maths in the ring,” Ndevelo told me, adding: “You don’t just throw punches in the ring. Every punch has to be calculated.”

Now, the mental warfare has begun. Ndevelo is keeping his cards close to his chest for Monday’s blockbuster.

“Against the Ghanaian, I’ll adopt another strategy. I can’t reveal it now because these boxers read your articles religiously—he’ll know exactly what I’m planning!”

Ebenezer, who outpointed Eswatini’s Gamedze Chawe using a relentless, one-handed assault after injuring his right fist, fired back a chilling warning:

“Ndevelo should prepare for the most difficult fight of his career.” Ebenezer is racing against the clock to heal his right hand before Monday’s opening bell.

THE LANDMINES AND THE CONTENDERS

Ring analysts pick Tryagain Ndevelo, Ankrah Ebenezer, Botswana’s Treasure Moremi, and Zambia’s Albert Ngulube as the frontrunners for the coveted gold medal. But the path to glory is littered with landmines: Each boxer has to tread carefully.

• The Twin Threat: Botswana’s Commonwealth Games quarterfinalist, Treasure Ndevelo—cruising in fresh off a bye—is set to collide with Mali’s stubborn, iron-willed Bathily Abdoul Karim.

• The Walkover Winner:Zambia’s African Games bronze medalist, Albert Ngulube, advanced on a round-of-16 walkover and now meets the dangerous Ugandan Byansi Hassan.

• The Dark Horse: Senegal’s Balde Oumar is hunting for a massive upset. After a scintillating, highlight-reel performance against Congo Brazzaville’s Ngollo Ngassay, Oumar takes on Angola’s rested Matomona Jonilsory, who advanced via a walkover.

*Ngulube spoiling for fight:* Irked by Emmanuel Katema’s controversial doctor stoppage defeat, Ngulube will charge at Uganda’s Byansi Hassan like a wounded buffalo. The Ugandan boxer will do a lot of dancing in the ring.

GLASGOW REMATCH LOOMING IN THE WOMEN’S BANTAMWEIGHT DIVISION

Amidst the whirlwind action at the Stade des Martyrs, the tournament is buzzing with the arrival of heavy-hitting international flavor.

Ireland-based fan favorite Chloe Gabriel of Mauritius is on a direct collision course for a rematch against Zambia’s first ever female boxer to win a medal in the Commonwealth Games Catherine Mwape.

Chloe squares off against Burundi’s Lilliane Nshimirimana in a crucial quarterfinal clash on Sunday, October 25. If she takes care of business, she punches her ticket to an October 28 semifinal showdown against Mwape, who received a golden ticket bye straight to the semis.

The two last crossed swords in a grueling war at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, where Mwape narrowly edged Chloe on points. The Mauritian is hungry to avenge that heartbreak.

MAURITIAN MAGIC AND MANDELA CUP CHAMPIONS

The Mauritian contingent is oozing confidence:

• *Valerie Fabrice:* The reigning Mandela Cup champion and African silver medalist faces a brutal Monday test against Mozambique’s relentless Manuel Banguine.

• *Merven Clair:* The Commonwealth Games bronze medalist coasted through with a bye and calmly awaits the winner of today’s fierce round-of-16 clash between Niger’s Yacoubalawali Mohamed and Cameroon’s powerhouse Yantou Koloko.

Meanwhile, Namibia’s team was today morning treated to a full course breakfast by their ambassador in Kinshasa. The wide smiles told it all when I bumped into Ndevelo & Co at the affluent Protea Hotel. Boxers have been complaining of inadequate meals at the Golden Tulip Hotel.

▪️Libya Boxing Federation President Abdulkarim Manit recalls his fight with Kenya’s Abdulrahman Athuman aka Assu

October 24, 2026

KINSHASA, DR Congo – As the action heats up on Day Three of the 22nd edition of the Africa Elite Boxing Championships here in Kinshasa, memories of Kenya’s Golden Era of boxing dominance continue to take center stage.

Forty-seven years ago, Libya’s current boxing federation president, Abdulkarim Manit (pictured), went toe-to-toe with Kenya’s Abdulrahman Athman, popularly known as “Assu,” in the finals of the 1979 Africa Elite Boxing Championships in Benghazi.

It was a tournament where Kenya asserted its continental supremacy, capturing the overall title while Libya finished as runners-up.

Meeting Manit in Kinshasa today, the Libyan boxing boss vividly recalls how the tactical Kenyan boxer outwitted him en route to a unanimous points victory.

“I had never met such a clever boxer,” Manit told boxersworld.co.ke. “I was shorter than him, so he took advantage of his height to keep me at a distance. I was frustrated because I couldn’t get closer to him.”

Manit’s journey from that ring to his current leadership role reflects the turbulent history of the sport in his home country. He recalled how the late Libyan President Muammar Gaddafi slapped a 38-year ban on international boxing from 1980 to 2018.

“He didn’t like boxing; he said it was a brutal sport,” Manit explained.

Today, October 24, 2026, the focus shifts firmly back to the canvas as Manit looks to guide a new generation of Libyan fighters on Day Three of the ongoing African Championships. Starting at 3:00 PM local time (5:00 PM East African Time), two of Libya’s finest are scheduled for crucial bouts.

In the welterweight division, Tariq Ahmed Alalawi will battle Mali’s Fousseni Traore while light-middleweight Mohammed Saeid Othman faces a daunting test against Burundi’s Nestor Nduwarugira, the 2024 Africa Championships silver medalist.

While Libya fights to rebuild its continental footprint after decades in the dark, the ghost of Kenya’s clever ring mastery from the 1960s to early 1990s remains a gold standard here in Kinshasa.

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▪️Zambia’s hard nut Mwengo Mwale takes on Malawian neighbour Ledson in quarters

▪️Cross river battle between DRC’s Mbonza and Congo’s Mbela Lech promises fireworks

▪️Double delight for coach Sinoia as two Mozambican warriors storm the quarters

October 23, 2026

The opening bell has sounded at the 2026 African Elite Boxing Championships in Kinshasa, igniting a flurry of exciting matchups at the Stade des Martyrs.

Mozambican featherweight star Armando Sigauque booked his quarterfinal spot on Thursday, October 22, with a commanding unanimous points victory over South Africa’s Sigwele Masibulele in the round of 16.

The African Games silver medalist now advances to a bruising showdown on October 26 against Ghana’s African Games champion, Amadu Mohammed. With Mohammed moving up from bantamweight for this tournament, their upcoming clash has all the makings of a final within a final.

The featherweight division is packed with tension. Zambia’s Mwengo Mwale, a World Championships quarterfinalist who fell to Mohammed in the 2024 African Games bantamweight final, has also stepped up in weight. After outpointing Senegal’s Omar Gueye, Mwale is set for a regional quarterfinal battle against Malawi’s Patson Ledson.

Meanwhile, a potential semifinal blockbuster looms between Olympic bronze medalist David Pina of Cape Verde and Namibia’s Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Philip Haoseb who defeated Botswana’s Katlego Keorapetse with Botswana’s coach Choga Ntoti seemingly unhappy with the decision.

The bout was stopped in the third round following a deep gash above Haoseb’s right eye but he carried the day because he was leading on points.

“The cut is under the right eyebrow but I’m luck my fight is next Monday it’ll be okay,” said Haoseb.

Haoseb went on: “He hit me severally with his head but I think it was not intentional, I noticed after throwing one-two’s he always came rushing with his head, the mistake is mine, I didn’t box well but generally it was not a tough fight.”

Haoseb will take on Angola’s Alberto Ribeiro in the quarters. Victory will see him tackle David Pina in the semis assuming that Pina, who got a bye to the quarter-finals, wins his bout against Valery Yohot of Cameroon.

It was a stellar tournament opening for Mozambican coach Lucas Sinoia, who celebrated two fighters advancing to the last eight. Alongside Sigauque, bantamweight Manuel Banguine eliminated Madzou Boumba of Congo Brazzaville to set up a quarterfinal bout against Mauritius’s Valerie Fabrice, the 2024 African Championships silver medalist.

Local fans also had plenty to cheer for as DR Congo’s own featherweight, Modi Mbonza, cruised past Frontin Giovanni of Mauritius on points. Mbonza is now scheduled for a cross-river derby on Sunday against neighbor Mbela Lech of Congo.

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