▪️Host DR Congo sets new record capturing a massive haul of 17 gold medals
▪️Critics demand action on R&Js involved in dubious officiating after questionable standing counts trigger a bizarre bantamweight final stoppage
▪️DRC talisman Kabeji etches his name into the history books with fourth consecutive gold medal and announces departure from amateur boxing
▪️Ngoune silences trash talk, defeats Gisele again to claim second African crown
▪️Zambia’s tiny team punches above expectations, Zimbabwe end 32-year drought and Uganda surprises boxing fraternity
▪️Mwengo Mwale – Amadu Mohamed bout fails to produce expected fireworks
November 1, 2026
Never before has a nation displayed such sheer dominance in the Africa Elite Boxing Championships as the Democratic Republic of Congo. Operating on another level, the host country shattered continental records by capturing a massive 17 gold medals from their 18 finalists in the Africa Elite Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championships which ended on October 31, 2026.
Defending African flyweight champion Nyembo Gisele was the lone casualty among the DRC’s finalists. Gisele fell on points to her Cameroonian arch-rival, Reine Laure Ngoune, in a highly anticipated grudge match fueled by pre-fight trash talk. Ngoune outboxed the Congolese slugger by jabbing smartly and avoiding dangerous inside exchanges. The victory secured Ngoune her second African Championship title, repeating her 2023 victory over Gisele in Yaoundé.
Despite that single blemish, DR Congo easily cruised to the overall team crown with an astonishing haul of 17 gold, one silver, and six bronze medals. Cameroon finished a distant second with a 3-4-7 medal count. Bringing a lean squad of just five boxers, Zambia took third place (3-1-0), followed by Congo Brazzaville in fourth (1-5-5), and Mozambique in fifth (1-1-1).
Uganda emerged as the tournament’s surprise package. Battling administrative hurdles back home, a relatively unknown Ugandan roster fought its way to an impressive eighth-place finish, securing one silver and three bronze medals. Uganda’s sole finalist, heavyweight Ebony Emmy Abel, suffered a second-round stoppage loss to DRC’s talismanic captain, Pita Kabeji.
With this victory, Kabeji permanently etched his name into the history books as the first boxer ever to win four consecutive gold medals at the Africa Elite Championships, building on his previous titles from 2022, 2023, and 2024.
“I’m through with amateur boxing. I’m moving over to pro boxing to give upcoming youngsters a chance to shine,” Kabeji announced after his historic feat.
Zambia’s Mwengo Mwale and Ghana’s southpaw Amadu Mohamed highly touted featherweight final failed to live up to its blockbuster billing.
Mwale, a soldier by profession, fought with extreme caution after suffering a severe cut above his right eye in an earlier bout. Determined to avoid close-quarter exchanges with the powerful Ghanaian, Mwale navigated a cagey, tactical chess match to secure a points victory.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe celebrated an emotional milestone. Sending just two boxers to the tournament—minimumweight Blessing Sibanda and light-middleweight Christian Ndlovu—the duo managed to capture two bronze medals. In doing so, they shattered a painful 32-year continental medal drought for Zimbabwean boxing dating back to the 1994 Africa Elite Championships in South Africa where they won three bronze medals through the current head coach Alexander Kwangwari, the late light-heavyweight Daliso Lungu and heavyweight Ezwell Ndlovu.
A shadow over the ring: The Pina-Bakora officiating scandal
For all the superb organization, exquisite entrance aisles, and generous equipment donations provided by the International Boxing Association (IBA), the tournament was severely marred by a baffling officiating scandal in the bantamweight division and a few other bouts.
In what was widely condemned as the “black spot” of the championships, Cape Verde’s Olympic bronze medalist David Pina was denied an undisputed gold medal against DR Congo’s Kolongo Bakora.
Pina had put on a technical clinic, comfortably winning the first two rounds 5-0 and 4-1 on the judges’ scorecards. However, the third round descended into farce. The referee issued three highly controversial, uncalled-for mandatory counts against Pina for no apparent tactical reason. Under IBA rules, three counts in a single round trigger an automatic stoppage, handing Bakora a highly dubious victory.
The blatant manipulation sparked immediate outrage, violating the fundamental rule taught to international officials: to avoid unnecessary counts in close fights and never act as a biased “sixth judge.”
The Verdict: Time for the big stick
The tournament proved that the physical standard of African boxing is rising rapidly. With regular competitive events, boxers from the continent possess the raw talent and power to conquer the global stage.
However, the biased officiating remains a stumbling block holding the sport back. To safeguard the integrity of African boxing, IBA Africa must use a heavy hand to punish corrupt or incompetent officials. There is a growing consensus among federations that a stagnant pool of technical officials have overstayed their welcome. To pave the way for true progress, it is time to phase them out. No official should ever be allowed to feel indispensable.
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