▪️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.
boxersworld.co.ke
