Former two-time heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua was discharged from a Lagos hospital on Wednesday after a car crash on Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, that killed two of his close team members. Nigerian authorities and his promoter said Joshua sustained minor injuries and was released as clinically fit to recuperate at home. The victims, strength-and-conditioning coach Sina Ghami and trainer Latif “Latz” Ayodele, were pronounced dead at the scene; repatriation arrangements were reported the same day. The collision, on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, has renewed scrutiny of road safety in Nigeria.
Key takeaways
- Anthony Joshua was released from Lagoon Hospital in Lagos on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, after being held under observation for minor injuries following the crash.
- Two team members, Sina Ghami (strength and conditioning coach) and Latif “Latz” Ayodele (trainer), were killed when the vehicle struck a stationary truck on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway.
- The crash occurred at about 11 a.m. local time on Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, on a major artery linking Ogun state and Lagos.
- Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed Joshua’s condition and paid public tribute to the two deceased staff members on social media.
- Nigeria’s Federal Road Safety Corps recorded 5,421 deaths in 9,570 road accidents in 2024, 340 more fatalities than in 2023, highlighting a broader safety problem.
- Footage circulated on social platforms showed rescuers extricating Joshua from the wrecked vehicle while he appeared to be in pain.
- Joshua had fought Jake Paul on Dec. 19, 2025, a bout he described as part of preparation for future title pursuits.
Background
The Lagos–Ibadan Expressway is one of Nigeria’s busiest corridors, linking the economic hub of Lagos with inland states. Longstanding concerns include vehicle breakdowns, poor road maintenance, heavy commercial traffic and inconsistent enforcement of traffic rules. Those conditions have contributed to high accident rates; authorities and NGOs have repeatedly called for infrastructure upgrades and stricter enforcement.
Anthony Joshua, a British boxer and Olympic gold medalist, was in Nigeria where his family has roots. He travels frequently with a close-knit team that includes coaches and support staff; the deaths of two team members has therefore had immediate personal and professional consequences. Matchroom Boxing and Lagos state officials have been the primary public sources of information since the incident.
Main event
The vehicle carrying Joshua and several team members struck a stationary truck at about 11 a.m. on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway on Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, according to statements from Lagos authorities. Emergency responders arrived on scene and transported survivors to Lagoon Hospital in Lagos. Two occupants, identified as Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, were killed in the collision.
Joshua was photographed and filmed being extricated from a badly damaged vehicle; footage shared on social media showed him wincing but conscious as rescuers assisted him. Matchroom Boxing had earlier said Joshua was under observation for minor injuries. On Wednesday evening, Lagos’ commissioner for information, Gbenga Omotoso, announced that Joshua had been discharged to continue recovery at home.
Omotoso also said Joshua and his mother visited a funeral home in Lagos to pay respects to the deceased as preparations for repatriation were underway. Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn posted a tribute on Instagram, describing both victims as loyal and energetic and asking for strength for families and the boxer during the difficult period.
Analysis & implications
The immediate human toll is clear: two support staff are dead and Joshua will face the personal and logistical consequences of repatriation and bereavement while resuming his public and professional life. For Joshua’s team, the loss of a strength-and-conditioning coach and a trainer removes key daily resources that underpin elite preparation, potentially delaying planned training cycles and promotional plans.
At a national level, the crash amplifies criticism of Nigeria’s road safety standards. The Federal Road Safety Corps’ 2024 figures—5,421 fatalities from 9,570 road accidents—underscore systemic weaknesses. The higher fatality count relative to 2023 (340 more deaths) suggests that existing interventions have not yet reversed rising trends.
Politically and administratively, high-profile incidents involving international figures can catalyze action, but results depend on budgeting, coordination among agencies and enforcement consistency. Lagos state officials are likely to face renewed pressure to tighten patrols, improve incident response and address maintenance on key expressways, especially where commercial vehicles and private traffic mix at high speed.
For the boxing community and promoters, the incident raises practical questions about travel protocols, vehicle choice and accompanying medical contingencies when teams travel in regions with elevated road risks. Promoters may revisit risk assessments, insurance coverage and route planning for fighters and staff traveling internationally.
Comparison & data
| Year | Reported road accidents | Reported deaths |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 9,570 | 5,421 |
| 2023 | — | 5,081 |
The FRSC provided the 2024 totals of 9,570 accidents and 5,421 deaths; it also noted an increase of 340 fatalities compared with 2023. While the number of reported accidents is provided for 2024, official public summaries did not publish a direct total for 2023 accidents in the same release. Differences in reporting periods and classification can affect year-to-year comparisons, and underreporting remains an acknowledged challenge.
Reactions & quotes
Matchroom Boxing and Eddie Hearn responded publicly within hours of the crash, expressing grief and support for families and for Joshua. The promoter’s statements framed the event as both a personal loss and a disruption to the fighter’s immediate plans.
“Rest in peace Latz and Sina. Your energy and loyalty among so many other great qualities will be deeply missed.”
Eddie Hearn / Matchroom Boxing (promoter statement on Instagram)
Lagos state officials provided operational details about Joshua’s discharge and the repatriation arrangement for the deceased; their communications emphasized coordination between health and state agencies. The commissioner for information described Joshua as clinically fit for home recovery and noted the boxer visited the funeral home with his mother.
“Anthony was discharged after clinical assessment and will recuperate at home; arrangements are ongoing for repatriation of the deceased.”
Gbenga Omotoso (Lagos State Commissioner for Information)
Public reaction on social media mixed condolences with renewed calls for stronger road-safety enforcement. Some users highlighted the routine danger on the Lagos–Ibadan corridor and urged faster infrastructure investment.
Unconfirmed
- Precise cause of the collision beyond the vehicle striking a stationary truck has not been publicly confirmed by an independent crash investigation at the time of reporting.
- Details about whether speed, mechanical failure or third-party actions directly contributed to the crash are pending official investigation results.
Bottom line
The factual core is straightforward: Anthony Joshua was treated for minor injuries and released from Lagos’ Lagoon Hospital after a vehicle he occupied collided with a stationary truck on Dec. 29, 2025, while two close team members died. The event is tragic on a personal level for Joshua and his staff and has immediate logistical consequences for repatriation and bereavement.
Beyond the individual losses, the crash spotlights systemic road-safety challenges in Nigeria, where 2024 data show thousands of deaths on the nation’s roads and a year-on-year rise in fatalities. Expect calls for stronger enforcement and infrastructure improvements; whether those calls translate into quick, measurable change will depend on political will, resources and targeted interventions.