The remains of Latif "Latz" Ayodele and Sina Ghami, two close associates of British heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua, have been flown out of Nigeria for burial in the United Kingdom. This follows a fatal car accident on Monday, which claimed their lives on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway in Ogun State. Both men were integral parts of Joshua's inner training circle, with Ayodele serving as his long-time trainer and Ghami as his strength and conditioning coach.

Anthony Joshua, the former unified world champion, who was in Nigeria for the Yuletide holidays, was also in the vehicle at the time of the crash. According to eyewitness accounts and police reports, the black Range Rover SUV carrying Joshua and his friends veered off the road and collided with a stationary truck near Ogere, Ogun State. Emergency responders confirmed that both Ayodele and Ghami died at the scene of the accident.

Joshua was rescued from the wreckage and rushed to a private hospital in Lekki, Lagos, where he received treatment for minor injuries, including bruises and mild shock. He was discharged two days later. Following his discharge, the 34-year-old boxer, accompanied by his mother and representatives from the British High Commission, visited a funeral home in Lagos to oversee the repatriation process of his friends' bodies. The deceased were airlifted on Thursday, January 1, to the UK.

In the wake of the tragedy, Joshua shared an emotional note through his team, describing the loss as "a heartbreak beyond words." He added that Ayodele and Ghami were "brothers who gave everything to the sport and to me personally." Tributes have poured in from across the boxing world, with fellow fighters and promoters expressing their sympathy and solidarity. Promoter Eddie Hearn called the loss "devastating for the entire Matchroom and AJ family," while former heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis urged prayers for Joshua's recovery.