Anthony Joshua finally smiling after fatal Nigeria car crash in a rare moment

Last year, in Dec. 2025, Anthony Joshua and two of his closest friends, Sina Ghami and Kevin Latif Ayodele, found themselves victims of a fatal car crash in Nigeria. While Joshua escaped with minor injuries, Ghami and Ayodele lost their lives. Away from the public eye since then, Joshua recently returned to the spotlight when he shared his first statement on the crash last week.

In a video now doing the rounds on the internet, Joshua could be seen enjoying a children’s soccer game in Hertfordshire, England, while sporting a wide grin on his face and laughing. After weeks of sadness and a downhill journey, Joshua’s smile was enough to melt his fans on the internet.

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“The Watford Warrior” was seen high-fiving delighted youngsters at the soccer session. He was also seen sharing a conversation with the children while also spending a jolly time with them. Reported by The Irish Sun, Joshua is believed to be attending his ten-year-old son’s soccer game there, although there is no confirmation of it.

Anthony Joshua pays tribute to late friends

As mentioned above, Joshua recently penned down an emotional post on social media, paying tribute to his late friends, while also sharing his gratitude to the Nigerian authorities for saving his life.

“It’s tough. It’s really tough. I’m not going to sit ⁠here and show all of my ‌emotions,” Joshua said on social ⁠media. Addressing the loss, he further claimed, “I’ve lost people before, but I don’t think I’ve lost people like that. My left and my right.”

Joshua last month defeated Jake Paul in a dominant boxing victory, following which he visited Nigeria for a vacation. The date of Joshua’s return to the boxing ring is currently unknown.

Concerning New Details Emerge About Driver Involved in Fatal Anthony Joshua Car Crash

Concerning new details have now emerged about the driver involved in the fatal Anthony Joshua car crash. Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, appeared in court this month, accused of causing the deaths of the boxer’s two best friends by dangerous driving in Nigeria over the festive period.

AJ and his two friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, were travelling in a black Lexus SUV when the driver lost control, reportedly due to a burst tyre, and collided with a stationary lorry that was illegally parked on the roadside.

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Sadly, both of Joshua’s friends immediately lost their lives at the scene, whereas the former two-time heavyweight champion of the world and the driver were both escorted to a nearby hospital where they were treated for minor injuries. A couple of days later, both were released, with AJ flying back to the UK and the driver facing serious questioning from the police.

Concerning New Details About AJ’s Driver Amid Court Case

According to The Sun, a little over a year before the fatal crash on December 29, Kayode was sacked for allegedly driving another SUV off the road and into a ditch. The accident in October 2024 happened when he became distracted while driving his boss in his black Infinity QX56 for a work trip, a source said.

“Kayode had been employed for a number of weeks. He was very attentive. He always took the bags and opened doors. He was very polite,” the source told the tabloid newspaper.

“But on one trip, they were in a village, and suddenly he went into the ditch. There was no reason that was obvious to cause the accident. He drove over a gutter on the side of the road when it was totally avoidable. After that, he wasn’t trusted to pay attention properly. He was sacked for being ‘absent-minded’.”

A chauffeur who was driving Anthony Joshua when their car crashed killing two of the boxer's friends has appeared in a court in Nigeria.

Adeniyi Kayode, 46, was previously charged with four crimes, including death by dangerous driving.

Joshua's personal trainer, Latif Ayodele,… pic.twitter.com/V3lDL2uCdl

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 20, 2026

They continued: “Nobody was hurt, but the car had a nasty dent and scratch at the front of it, and two tyres were punctured.” Kayode arrived at Sagamu Magistrates Court in Ogun state on Tuesday, January 20, but the case was adjourned until 25 February after the prosecutor was granted more time to gain legal advice.

AJ’s Driver Faces Life in Prison For Manslaughter & Dangerous Driving

While appearing before a magistrate in Sagamu on Friday, January 2, Kayode was charged with dangerous driving causing death, reckless and negligent driving, having no licence, and driving without due care and attention causing bodily harm to damage and property.

Should the 47-year-old be found guilty, he could face life in prison. The father-of-three, who has worked for Joshua for more than three years, was initially granted bail, but returned to custody until the 5 million Naira (roughly £2,500) bond was paid.

After the initial hearing, his lawyer, Olalekan Abiodun, told the Daily Mail: “My client has pleaded not guilty and what happened was an accident. I haven’t had a full chance to speak with him yet, but I know he is saying the brakes failed.”

Anthony Joshua has opened up on the tragic car crash that saw his close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, lose their lives.

It’s the first time AJ has sat down in front of a camera and addressed the horrific events in December.

The heavyweight champion has kept a low profile since the crash in Lagos, in which he lost his close pals since childhood and sustained injuries himself. The funerals of Sina and Latz took place on January 4 at a mosque in London.

Joshua, 36, fought back tears as he paid a fitting tribute to his ‘two brothers’. The British boxer also addressed whether he’ll return to the ring after the traumatic event.

Anthony Joshua Not Considering Retirement

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Speaking from the heart, AJ addressed his feelings as he opened up: “That was such an unforeseen circumstance that was out of all of our control. And not only did their parents, their uncles, their cousins, their friends and myself, lose two great men. We lost people that we really care about have been major players in all of our lives, major, major players in all of our lives. It’s tough. It’s really tough.”

Addressing his future in boxing, which was thrown into doubt by the mental and physical issues caused by the accident, Joshua appeared to confirm he would be back in the ring eventually. He said:

“I know what my duty is. They were my brothers, my friends, first and foremost. Then we became business partners, we became hustlers, we became generals, we became everything. We became housemates, who were living together.

“I’ve lost people before, but I don’t think I’ve lost people like that, my left and my right.

“The mission must go on… I understand my duty.”

Joshua Vows to Look After His Friends’ Loved Ones

The 36-year-old athlete reaffirmed his intentions to look after the loved ones and families of his late friends. Joshua stated:

“My goal is to help their families and to help them achieve their goals, even though they may not be here in the physical. I will be saying my prayers, and I’m going to help them fulfill their dreams for their families. It’s not only me though helping. There’s a whole team working on that stuff.”

Anthony Joshua staves off tears as he opens up on loss of friends in car crash

Anthony Joshua has opened up on the loss of two close friends as he issued a tearful message to the fans addressing his fatal car crash in Nigeria.

The boxing world united to pay tribute to Joshua’s former teammates Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele after both were killed in the accident near Lagos on 29 December.

‘AJ’, the former world heavyweight champion, appeared in agony as he was hauled out of the vehicle but was only left with minor injuries and has since returned to the gym in a bid to revisit his craft.

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Joshua issued an initial statement paying tribute to Ghami and Ayodele but has now taken to Instagram to speak more vulnerably to his fanbase.

“Not only did their parents, their uncles, their cousins their friends, and myself lose two great men. We lost people we dearly care about and have been major players in all of our lives,” Joshua said. “It’s tough, it’s really tough.

“I’m not going to sit here and show all of my emotions. I know in today’s day and age, it’s easy to micro-analyse as people and pass judgement but I know what I feel, and that’s what matters to me.

“I know what my duty is. They’re my brothers, they’re my friends, first and foremost. And then we became business partners. We became hustlers. We became lieutenants, we became generals. We became everything. We became housemates who were living together.”

It was the third post from Joshua since the accident, having first posted a shot of himself alongside family members, with a portrait shot of Ghami, before posting a touching written tribute.

As he staved off tears, Joshua added: “It is a shame, it’s a shame. So there’s that side of things. One day my time will come and I’m not scared at all. It’s actually comforting knowing I’ve got two brothers on the other side.

“I’ve lost people before but I don’t think I’ve lost people like that. My left and my right. Throughout this like journey that I’ve been on, they’ve been (here), it’s not easy.

“I’m the big guy, but I was walking with giants that kept me protected, kept me shielded. But the mission must go on. I understand my duty. I understand what they wanted to do for their families.

“So what my goal is, it’s to continue to help them achieve their goals, even though they may not be here in physical. When I pray at night, when I pray in the morning, I know spiritually they’re gonna aid me through because it’s not just physical strength that will get me through, it’s going to take a lot of strength from the higher power.

“I’m going to definitely be saying my prayers and I’m gonna help them fulfil their dreams for their families. Not only me, there’s a whole team of us, the the whole brotherhood, the whole sisterhood that will be helping fulfil their legacy and fulfil their dreams.”

Joshua also made sure to thank all those who had offered their support and love across social media, saying it was “all acknowledged”.

The crash came just 10 days after Joshua knocked out YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in a fight in Miami.

Plans had been made for Joshua to fight again in February, likely in Saudi Arabia, with Riyadh Season boss Turki Alalshikh proposing a future fight in 2026 against long-time British rival Tyson Fury.

Anthony Joshua has a “desire to continue” despite suffering a tragic car crash in Nigeria last month.

That is according to Oleksandr Usyk – who recently shared a conversation the former two-time heavyweight world champion. Joshua was a passenger in the the Lexus SUV that collided with a stationary truck on a major expressway near Lagos, Nigeria. The 36-year-old came away with minor injuries, but the incident claimed the lives of two of the boxer’s close friends and teammates, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.

Their funerals took place in London on January 4. Reports have emerged since that Joshua cheated death by swapping seats ahead of the journey. There are now questions over the Brit’s future – who was in Nigeria just days after his knockout win over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.

Earlier this month, the boxing star’s uncle claimed the heavyweight behemoth had informed his family he will retire following the crash. The Brit allegedly made the decision ‘known to his family in private’. “The major thing there is that he has retired from boxing. That is one thing that makes us glad because each time he’s fighting in the ring, we are always carried away emotionally,” Adedamola Joshua told The Punch. Usyk, though, shares a different view after sharing a chat with ‘AJ.’

The 39-year-old – who famously beat Joshua twice in 2021 and 2022 – has formed a rather close bond with the Brit in recent times, and the Ukrainian has now revealed a conversation he had with the boxing legend. During a recent interview with Ready To Fight, he said: “I’ve already spoken with him.

“I heard a desire to continue in his voice — for the friends he lost and for the chance to live that the Lord gave him. Once I spoke with the mother of my fallen comrade, and she told me: ‘Oleksandr, he would be very proud that you are continuing your work; he will watch you from heaven.’ And he, I think, does that. And not just him, but all my loved ones who passed away defending our country. They are my guardian angels who help me in the ring.”

Usyk has worked closely with Joshua these past few months after Joshua enlisted the help of the Ukrainian ahead of his fight with Paul last month. The 39-year-old is expected to make his return to the ring later this year, having not fought since his knockout win over Daniel Dubois back in July.

Last week, pictures emerged of Joshua returning to the gym nearly three weeks after the incident in Nigeria. ‘AJ’ shared snaps of him working working out and hitting pads in what he described as “mental strength therapy.” He was also seen pushing himself with some lower leg exercises as well as riding a stationary bike. Further footage showed the boxing star getting in a pool in a compilation of footage.

Other posts included a picture of what appeared to be the official time he had been on a cardio machines, along with the caption: “I am a fighter.” as well as a photo of him being punched by heavyweight legend Wladimir Klitschko during their historic showdown back in 2017 at Wembley Stadium.

The boxer’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, provided a recent update on his star client after the British fighter was spotted back in the gym, as he laced up the gloves again in Dubai. The promoter shared a post on Instagram. “Great to catch up with @anthonyjoshua today,” the Matchroom chief wrote. “His resilience and strength is inspiring. The loss is heavy, and he will take his time to get back on track. But said he is truly grateful for all the support and the love shown for Latz and Sina.”

Anthony Joshua Posts New Boxing Return Update Amid Retirement Speculation

Anthony Joshua has posted footage of himself in training for the first time since being involved in a fatal car crash that killed two of his close friends.

The 36-year-old former heavyweight champion sustained minor injuries in late December, when the Lexus SUV he was travelling in collided with a stationary truck on a major road near Lagos, Nigeria.

Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, his close friends, sadly passed away in the crash.

READ: Watch Anthony Joshua Back in Boxing Training Following Tragic Ca

Joshua travelled back to the United Kingdom after a short stay in hospital and attended the funerals of Ghami and Ayodele at a mosque in London on January 4.

Last week, he paid tribute to Ghami and Ayodele, saying he is finding it “tough” to process their deaths.

“Thank you for all the love and care you have shown my brothers. I didn’t even realise how special they are,” Joshua wrote on Instagram.

“I’ll just be walking with them and cracking jokes with them, not even knowing God kept me in the presence of great men. 100 per cent it’s tough for me, but I know it’s even tougher for their parents.”

He added: “I have a strong mind, and I believe God knows their hearts. May God have mercy on my brothers.”

Over the past month, there has been speculation as to whether Joshua will retire from boxing after the tragic incident.

Now, Joshua has posted a video on Snapchat showing him hitting pads, working out and riding a stationary bike, with the message “mental strength therapy” featuring at the bottom of one clip.

There have been no conversations over Joshua’s future, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn, who was recently asked whether he expects the heavyweight fighter to take some time away from the sport.

“He will need his time physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually before he makes a decision on his future,” Hearn told Sky Sports. “I do think he will want to return to boxing, but that will be his decision when the time is right.

“It is certainly not a conversation I’ll be having with him any time soon. The only conversation is ‘are you OK?’ and sometimes we find people will give that facade of being OK, but what happened to him is not normal and heartbreaking for all involved.”

“When the time is right, I believe he will make his decision and you will hear it from him,” added Hearn. “That is the only voice you should listen to in that respect and we’ll give him his time to make that decision and heal.”