Anthony Joshua’s two close friends and team members, Sina Ghami and Abdul Latif Kevin Ayodele, were buried in London following a fatal car accident in Nigeria on December 29, 2025. Their remains were repatriated to the UK for the funeral services.
A funeral prayer service was held on January 4, 2026, at the London Central Mosque. Ghami served as Joshua’s strength and conditioning coach, while Ayodele was his personal trainer and a close confidant. Both men were integral members of Joshua’s camp, and their passing has deeply impacted the boxing community.
Joshua, who sustained minor injuries in the accident, was visibly emotional as he attended the services to pay his final respects. Surrounded by family, friends, and community members, the heavyweight boxer struggled to contain his grief as the caskets were lowered at Hendon Cemetery in North London. The burial followed the earlier service at the London Central Mosque, where thousands had gathered to mourn.
The 36-year-old boxer was a passenger in the back of a black SUV when it struck a stationary truck on a major road near Lagos last Monday. While Joshua survived the crash, the impact claimed the lives of both Ayodele and Ghami. Joshua spent several days in the hospital before being released on New Year’s Eve.
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On Sunday, Joshua posted on social media for the first time since the tragedy. After flying home to the UK on Friday, the former two-time heavyweight world champion shared a photo of himself with his mother and members of his late friends’ families, captioned: “My Brother’s Keeper.”
On Friday, the Ogun State Police Command confirmed that Joshua’s driver, 46-year-old Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, has been charged at the Sagamu Magistrate Court. The case has been adjourned until January 20. Kayode faces charges of causing death by dangerous driving, reckless and negligent driving, driving without due care, and driving without a valid license. (UK Mirror)
