Anthony Joshua Pays Respects To Friends Killed In Road Crash

• The British-Nigerian boxing star is now recovering at his home in the country, according to a statement from the regional governments of Lagos and Ogun States

Anthony Joshua has been discharged from hospital days after a car crash in Nigeria that killed two of his close friends.

The British-Nigerian boxing star is now recovering at his home in the country, according to a statement from the regional governments of Lagos and Ogun states.

Joshua was travelling in the back of a black SUV when it hit a stationary truck on a major road near Lagos on Monday, killing his friends Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami.

‘I’ve lost sleep thinking about it’

The 36-year-old two-time world champion and his mother paid their respects to them at a funeral home on Wednesday afternoon ahead of their repatriation to the UK, the statement added.

“Anthony Joshua was discharged from hospital late this afternoon though heavy hearted and full of emotions over the loss of his two close friends he was deemed fit (enough) to recuperate from home,” the statement, posted on X, read.

The post also expressed gratitude for the team of doctors and medical staff at the Lagoon Hospital Ikoyi “that attended to Anthony and those that sustained injuries.

“The quality of care and professionalism is truly commendable.”

Joshua, who was born in Watford to Nigerian parents, was on holiday in Nigeria following his win over Jake Paul in Miami on 19 December.

He survived with minor injuries, police have said.

Joshua’s spokesperson said in a statement Mr Ghami and Mr Ayodele “were close friends and integral members of Anthony’s team.”

How did the crash happen?

The crash happened on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway near Sagamu, at about midday local time (11am UK time), according to the Nigerian federal road safety corps (FRSC).

The FRSC said preliminary findings indicated the Lexus was “suspected to be travelling beyond the legally prescribed limit” and “lost control” while overtaking before crashing into the truck, which was parked by the side of the road.

“The primary causes of the crash being excessive speed and wrongful overtaking constitute serious traffic violations and remain among the leading causes of fatal road crashes on Nigerian highways,” the corps said on X.

‘Traumatised situation’

On Wednesday, a close friend of Joshua told Sky News the boxer would be in a “traumatised situation” from seeing another friend die in a car crash, who was more like a “twin brother” to him.

Kolawole Omoboriowo, who has known Joshua for eight years, was the one to break the news to the athlete’s family about the accident.

‘We’re going to be praying for him’

Mr Omoboriowo, who coordinates Joshua’s logistics in Nigeria, said the boxer’s family were “like my other family in the UK”.

The time since has been a “crazy nightmare for everyone”, he said.

He also said Mr Ayodele, one of the two people killed in the accident, was “more than a friend” to Joshua and more like a “twin brother.”

@Sky News