Victor Osimhen has extended his condolences to heavyweight boxing sensation Anthony Joshua following a horrific automobile crash in Nigeria that killed two persons close to the former world champion.
Joshua was hurt in the incident earlier this week, but his friends and trainers, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, were killed when their vehicle crashed with a stationary truck.
Speaking during Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign, Osimhen described the news as very upsetting, emphasising Joshua’s significance to Nigeria’s global image.
“It’s devastating news,” the Super Eagles striker said in an interview with The Athletic. “He’s been one of the huge celebrities that put Nigeria on the map. He’s done it for so many years. Something like this affected a lot of Nigerians.
“Condolences to the families of the deceased. It’s not a beautiful thing to lose a life.”
Recall that Joshua was rescued from the wreckage and transported to the hospital, where he is being treated for minor injuries. His promoters, Matchroom, said that the 36-year-old is stable and will continue to be monitored.
Osimhen’s teammates expressed similar feelings. Bright Osayi-Samuel called the tragedy as terrible, emphasising the emotional significance of it being in Nigeria, while Wilfred Ndidi claimed the news cast a gloom over the squad.
“It was really sad,” Ndidi said. “I hope he can recover from that. I wish him strength, and to the families of those who died as well.”
The statements were made during Nigeria’s 3-1 victory over Uganda, which secured a perfect group-stage record at AFCON 2025. Paul Onuachu scored first, followed by Raphael Onyedika’s two goals in short succession, with Uganda getting one back late.
The Super Eagles finished first in Group C and will now focus on the knockout rounds, albeit the unfortunate news surrounding Joshua has dampened the mood in camp.
Nigeria is one of the favourites for the title in Morocco, alongside hosts Morocco, Egypt, and Senegal, as the tournament enters its final stages.
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