▪️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.
