▪️ The three boxers to represent the Central African country in the U19 Futures Cup in Bangkok will all be making their debut in their country’s colours in this high stakes event to be used as a qualifier for the Youth Olympics scheduled for Senegal’s capital city Dakar later this year
March 6, 2026
Despite the daunting odds facing the three newcomers, Equatorial Guinea’s pioneering U19 boxers are bringing grit, passion, and immense pride to the 2026 World Boxing (WB) Futures Cup in Bangkok, Thailand, from March 8-15.
The three boxers, Juan Carlos Kwasi, 48 kg, Elías tisbita 55kg Misael Andeke 60kg are hoping to turn a tough challenge into a historic opportunity to shine on the world stage.
It’s indeed a steep learning curve for the Equatorial Guinea boxers against their more exposed opponents from Europe, Asia and the Americas.
With only 120 slots available for 60 male and 60 female boxers in five weight categories, this is a difficult, high-level pathway to the 2026 Youth Olympic Games for the African countries whose boxers lack constant exposure.
The Equatorial Guinea President Maria Obono Edu Andeme is however convinced her boxers are up to the task especially with the thorough training they’ve had at home and in Bangkok.
“Our team has been going through specialized training sessions scheduled before the start of the official competition since their arrival in Bangkok on March 4,” Maria Obono told boxersworld.co.ke in an interview.
“The delegation consists of three promising young athletes, two 17-year-olds and one 16-year-old, representing the new generation of national talent.
“Prior to departure, the team underwent intensive training to prepare for the technical demands of this global stage. The selection was based on their performance in the National Junior Championship, ensuring that the athletes met the strict age and skill requirements for this historic debut.”
The three players in Bangkok are accompanied by experienced coach El Mostapha Choumdras. One of them, bantamweight Elias Tisbita, is a two-time national junior champion.
