Inside the Tragic Nigeria Trip With Anthony Joshua: Why Coach Sina Ghami Chose to Travel
Anthony Joshua’s recent trip to Nigeria ended in tragedy when a car crash on a reportedly dangerous road killed his long‑time coach and friend Sina Ghami and team member Latif “Latz” Ayodele, while Joshua and the driver survived with minor injuries, prompting tributes, questions about why Ghami travelled, and renewed attention to road safety in the country.
According to reporting from The Times and summarised by GIVEMESPORT, the British heavyweight was on a week‑long holiday in Nigeria when the vehicle carrying him, Ghami, Ayodele and a driver collided with a stationary lorry. Only Joshua and the driver walked away.
Family members, colleagues and fans have since sought to understand not only how the crash occurred, but also why Ghami chose to accompany Joshua on the journey and what the loss means for the former two‑time heavyweight champion’s inner circle.
What Happened on Anthony Joshua’s Trip to Nigeria?
The crash took place earlier this week on a road in Nigeria that local and international outlets have described as notoriously dangerous. The car carrying Anthony Joshua, coach Sina Ghami, Latif “Latz” Ayodele and their driver struck a stationary lorry, according to the account relayed in GIVEMESPORT’s coverage of the incident.
Joshua and the driver reportedly suffered minor injuries and were able to leave the vehicle, while Ghami and Ayodele died at the scene. The incident has not yet been comprehensively reconstructed in public, and at the time of writing, detailed official accident reports have not been widely released.
Early quotes attributed to Joshua in the aftermath captured the physical and emotional shock. His first reported words following the crash, as cited by GIVEMESPORT, were: “I feel pain all over.”
Nigerian roads have long been associated with high accident rates. Data from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), cited in Nigerian media, frequently highlights collisions involving commercial trucks and private vehicles, particularly on poorly lit or poorly maintained stretches of highway. While the specific location and causative factors in this crash remain under scrutiny, the incident fits into a broader pattern of concern about road safety in the country.
Who Were Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele?
Both Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele had been part of Anthony Joshua’s team for years, according to GIVEMESPORT’s report. Ghami was known in the United Kingdom as the owner of a major gym group and as a close member of Joshua’s coaching and support setup. Ayodele, often referred to by his nickname “Latz”, was a long‑standing associate of Joshua with strong family ties to Nigeria.
Their deaths have been described by those close to Joshua as a profound personal and professional loss. The boxer’s camp, which has seen several changes over the course of Joshua’s career, relied on a core group of trusted figures, including Ghami and Ayodele, for training, logistics and emotional support.
Publicly available details about Ayodele’s life and role remain limited, reflecting both his more behind‑the‑scenes position and the privacy often maintained by support staff in elite boxing camps.
Why Did Sina Ghami Travel With Anthony Joshua to Nigeria?
For Latif Ayodele and Anthony Joshua, trips to Nigeria are not unusual, as both have family ties to the country. Joshua, who has spoken in the past about his Nigerian heritage and his connection to his parents’ homeland, has regularly travelled there outside of major fights.
In Ghami’s case, the reason for joining the trip has been described as deeply personal. GIVEMESPORT, citing an interview with Ghami’s uncle published by The Times, reported that Ghami travelled so that Joshua would not be alone during what was expected to be a week‑long holiday.
“They were friends, Anthony Joshua and Sina. They worked together, but they began as friends. Even on this trip, he didn’t want him to be alone, so he went with him.”
— Shahryar, Sina Ghami’s uncle, speaking to The Times (as quoted by GIVEMESPORT)
This portrayal emphasises the personal bond between Joshua and Ghami, framing the coach’s decision to travel not primarily as a professional obligation but as an act of friendship and solidarity. It has also added to the emotional resonance of the story, as what was intended to be a supportive gesture ended in catastrophe.
Reactions From Family, Fans and the Boxing Community
The response to the crash has come from multiple fronts: grieving family members, Joshua’s supporters, and a wider boxing community accustomed to rallying around fighters during moments of crisis.
Family Perspective
Ghami’s uncle, Shahryar, has functioned as a key public voice for the family, offering both biographical detail and their emotional response. His emphasis on the friendship between Joshua and Ghami, and the reason for the trip, has shaped much of the early coverage in UK outlets.
Families of road‑traffic victims in Nigeria and abroad often report a sense of frustration alongside grief, citing questions about infrastructure, enforcement of traffic regulations, and the behaviour of commercial vehicle operators. While Ghami’s and Ayodele’s relatives have so far focused on personal tributes, their loss echoes those broader concerns.
Fans and Public Reaction
On social media, boxing fans have shared condolences and expressed shock at the narrow margin by which Joshua survived. Commenters have also highlighted the role that trainers and back‑room staff play in elite boxing, noting that coaches like Ghami are often less visible despite being integral to a fighter’s success.
Some users have raised questions about travel safety for high‑profile athletes and their entourages, specifically in regions where road conditions and enforcement are inconsistent. Others have cautioned against speculation until more official details about the crash are released.
Boxing Community and Mental Health Concerns
From within the sport, observers have drawn attention to the psychological burden such an event can place on a fighter. Joshua has previously navigated public scrutiny following high‑stakes defeats and training‑camp changes; this time, the challenge is less about career narrative and more about coping with sudden bereavement.
Sports psychologists and medical professionals typically emphasise structured support after traumatic incidents, including counselling and time away from competition when necessary. There has been no official statement detailing Joshua’s mental‑health plans, but commentators have widely predicted that it may take “a long, long time,” in the words echoed in GIVEMESPORT’s coverage, for him to emotionally process the loss of two close team members.
Joshua’s Connection to Nigeria and Travel Risk Context
Anthony Joshua’s links to Nigeria have been a recurring theme throughout his career. Born in Watford, England, to Nigerian parents, he has spoken in interviews about feeling a strong cultural and familial connection to the country, visiting relatives there and occasionally conducting community outreach or media engagements during trips.
His visits with figures like Latif Ayodele, who also has family ties to Nigeria, are generally viewed as personal rather than promotional. Such journeys nevertheless attract attention due to Joshua’s global profile.
At the same time, international agencies and NGOs have periodically flagged road travel in parts of Nigeria as high risk, citing factors such as:
- Poorly maintained road surfaces and limited lighting in some regions.
- Heavy use of large commercial vehicles and lorries.
- Variable enforcement of traffic regulations.
- Overcrowding and speed on inter‑city routes.
Local authorities, including the Federal Road Safety Corps, have continued to roll out awareness campaigns and enforcement drives to reduce accidents. However, major incidents like the one involving Joshua’s entourage underscore the ongoing challenges in improving road safety outcomes.
What the Tragedy Means Going Forward
In the short term, the crash in Nigeria has left Anthony Joshua and his team confronting the immediate realities of bereavement and recovery. Training plans and future fight negotiations are likely to be secondary to medical checks, family arrangements for Ghami and Ayodele, and private mourning.
From a broader perspective, the incident has prompted renewed discussion of road safety in Nigeria and highlighted the often unseen personal relationships that underpin elite sport. For Joshua, whose career has been closely scrutinised since he first became world heavyweight champion in 2016, this episode marks one of the most personal and painful chapters of his public life.
How the former two‑time heavyweight champion ultimately responds—both in and out of the ring—will emerge over time. For now, the dominant themes from those closest to the story are loss, friendship, and a reminder of the human vulnerability that lies behind global sporting fame.
