▪️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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