Former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua pays tribute to two friends killed in a car crash in Nigeria, where he suffered minor injuries.
LONDON: Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has paid a moving tribute to two close friends killed in a car crash in Nigeria.
Joshua labelled Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami as “brothers” and “great men” in an Instagram post.
He suffered minor injuries in the December 29 crash and returned to England after being discharged from hospital.
Joshua attended the funerals of Ayodele, his personal trainer, and Ghami, his long-time strength and conditioning coach, last Sunday.
“Thank you for all the love and care you have shown my brothers,” Joshua posted.
“I didn’t even realise how special they are. I’ll just be walking with them and cracking jokes with them, not even knowing God kept me in the presence of great men.”
Both men died at the scene of the crash on the busy Lagos-Ibadan highway in southwest Nigeria.
Their Lexus SUV rammed into a stationary truck, according to reports.
Nigerian police have charged the 46-year-old driver, Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, with dangerous driving causing death.
Joshua, 36, was on holiday in Nigeria following his win over Jake Paul in Miami on December 19.
