Anthony Joshua Leaves Hospital After Nigeria Car Crash That Killed Two Close Friends

Anthony Joshua, the 36-year-old former two-time world heavyweight champion, has been discharged from Lagoon Hospital in Lagos and is recuperating at home.

“President Bola Tinubu spoke by phone with British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua and Joshua’s mother after a fatal road crash on the Lagos–Ibadan Expressway that left Joshua injured, the Premium Times reports”

allAfrica

He was involved in a car crash on the Lagos–Ibadan expressway in Ogun State that killed two of his close friends and team members.

allAfrica

Multiple outlets report Joshua was a passenger in an SUV that struck a stationary truck, and state officials said he sustained only minor injuries, left the hospital on Wednesday, and visited the funeral home where the victims’ bodies were being prepared for repatriation.

Two people killed were identified by multiple outlets as Sina Ghami and Latif (also reported as Kevin 'Latif'/'Latz') Ayodele.

They were long-time members of Joshua’s team, described variously as a strength and conditioning coach, a rehabilitation coach and a fitness trainer.

Arise News

Matchroom and others confirmed the fatalities and asked for privacy, while public figures including Jake Paul and Nigeria's President Bola Tinubu offered condolences.

Reports emphasise the deep professional and personal links the victims had with Joshua, describing them as pillars of his training set-up and long-time friends.

Accounts of what caused the crash differ in emphasis across reports.

“According to Reuters/ABC, a British boxer is expected to face long-time rival Tyson Fury in a much-anticipated bout scheduled for 2026”

Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Nigerian agencies and police statements cited by some outlets say preliminary probes found the vehicle was speeding and that a tyre burst contributed to the collision.

Other reports quote the Federal Road Safety Corps describing excessive speed and a wrongful overtaking manoeuvre that led the SUV to hit a stationary truck.

Eyewitness footage and local police comments reported by some outlets describe the vehicle as badly wrecked while noting investigations are ongoing.

The crash occurred days after Joshua's knockout victory over Jake Paul on Dec. 19.

Sources vary slightly on the timeline but place the accident within about a week to 10 days of that fight.

BBC

Media reports say Joshua had been in Nigeria for celebrations and to visit family.

After leaving the hospital, he and his mother attended the funeral home as preparations began to repatriate the two victims' bodies.

National leaders and peers, from President Bola Tinubu to Jake Paul and promoter Eddie Hearn, publicly expressed condolences.

Reporting highlights the broader aftermath: investigations are open, families have asked for privacy, and the boxing community has expressed grief.

“Latif Ayodele (left) and Sina Ghami (right) were close friends and team members of Anthony Joshua British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua has been discharged from hospital in Nigeria days after a fatal car accident that killed two of his close friends”

BBC

Outlets diverge on longer-term implications.

BBC

Several mainstream reports stick to confirmed facts and official statements about Joshua's condition and the ongoing probe.

Tabloids and some broadcast outlets add speculation about potential injuries and what this may mean for proposed future fights, while African outlets foreground local grief, the victims’ community roles, and road-safety context.

The incident has prompted public condolences from sporting peers and national figures and remains under official investigation.