▪️Mwale threatens to wipe out Haoseb whom he describes as a kid in the ring, sentiments which have not been treated lightly by the Namibian camp with coach Ipundaka Lungameni telling Mwale to prepare for several visits to the gents
August 18, 2026
A fiery war of words has erupted between Namibia’s Commonwealth Games bronze medallist Philip Haoseb and Zambia’s African Games silver medal winner Mwengo Mwale, turning up the heat way before they even step into the ring in the Africa Elite Men’s and Women’s boxing championships.
The two boxing stars are likely to clash at bantamweight in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, for the tournament running from October 18 to 31, 2026.
“He’s still a kid in the ring,” roared Mwale who has thrown the first salvo when sizing up his Namibian rival. Mwale, who brings serious pedigree as a 2023 African Games silver medallist and a 2025 World Championship quarter-finalist, warned Haoseb that he is swimming in deep, dangerous waters.
Mwale watched Haoseb fight in the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and was entirely unimpressed.
“To be honest, he’s my junior in the ring, I’ll wipe him out in seconds,” Mwale told boxersworld.co.ke
Mwale added fuel to the fire by stating the only fighter he actually respects is Ghana’s African Games champion, Amadu Mohammed whom he said he will also silence in Kinshasa.
In a swift counter-punch, Haoseb scoffed at Mwale’s threat wondering why he’s not being realistic.
“He returned home with no medal from the Commonwealth Games,” Haoseb, a former street fighter who clawed his way to the top, quickly weaponised Mwale’s insults. He reminded the Zambian fighter that experience does not always equal medals..
Haoseb pointed out that he actually won a bronze medal in Glasgow while Mwale went stargazing.
“He returned home with nothing despite claiming to be my senior,” Haoseb hit back, telling Mwale to prepare for a deeply humiliating defeat.
Haoseb’s coach, Ipundaka Lungameni, jumped into the verbal sparring match to defend his fighter. He claimed that Mwale’s loud mouth is just a shield to hide his intense fear.
Lungameni claimed he closely watched Mwale’s body language in Glasgow while Haoseb was warming up, and realized the Zambian boxer is a coward.
“I studied his eyes and knew he’s scared of my boxer,” Lungameni teased. He jokingly predicted that if the two meet in Kinshasa, Mwale will make “several visits to the washroom” before their bout trembling in fear ahead of the fight.
This explosive build-up does more than just hype up a single match. It completely reignites the fierce, long-standing sporting rivalry between neighbors Zambia and Namibia. With Zambia loudly boasting that they rule the southern African boxing scene, Haoseb is carrying the pride of Namibia on his shoulders to prove them wrong and remind them Namibia topped Africa in boxing at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.
When the opening bell rings in Kinshasa this October, we will finally see if Mwale can back up his massive talk, or if Haoseb will make him swallow his words.
Coach Lungameni hailed Haoseb’s impressive performance in Glasgow.
“Philip’s performance was amazing as this was his first appearance in the Commonwealth Games and he gave a very good account of himself,” Lungameni told boxersworld.co.ke
“Winning a bronze in his first major international game just shows how good a boxer he is, and he’s still young, I believe he can still achieve more in his boxing career.”
Lungameni said this is just the beginning of Haoseb’s rise to stardom.
“The boy is definitely going places, his boxing style is very unique, and it’s rare to find such a skillful boxer like him at his age in Africa.
“His southpaw stance further gives him an advantage against his opponents majority of whom are orthodox and don’t have southpaw boxers in their gyms.”
Lungameni said one quality he admires in Haoseb is his self drive and personal initiative.
“Philip is a self motivated boxer. He doesn’t need me to be beside him all the time, or to put up goals for him. He’s very focused and has his own initiative,” said Lungameni.
