Tag: Olanrewaju

• Probe panel indicts Nigeria, Ghana boxing boards

• By Daniel Akinte

On the heels of the burial of late Nigerian boxer, Gabriel Oluwasegun Olanrewaju, on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, a dispute has emerged concerning a $3,000 (about N4.6m) funeral donation from the Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA).

According to the boxer’s widow, Maria Adebusola Olanrewaju, she hasn’t received the money; instead, her late husband’s family is disputing who gets it.

The GBA had donated the $3,000 equivalent to over N4.6 m to the family of the late boxer when a delegation returned his remains to his ancestral home in Nigeria.

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The GBA donation was made as a gesture of goodwill and support to the family during their time of grief.

Adebusola stated that her late husband’s family denied her and her children access and prevented her from performing the traditional rites after his body was released to them.

She added that the family’s dispute over the $3,000 donation has intensified their existing stress and tension.

Olanrewaju died in Ghana after collapsing at the Bukom Boxing Arena during a fight against Ghana’s John Mbanugu.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC) and Ghana Boxing Authority (GBA) have been indicted by the investigative panel set up by the Sports and Recreation Minister, Kofi Adams.

The six-week investigation culminated in a damning report submitted by the Amarkai Amarteifio-led committee.

Among its findings was the revelation that the bout had been approved by the GBA despite the absence of a valid contractual agreement between the Nigerian boxer and the event promoter.

The report further noted significant failures in medical preparedness and emergency response, accusing both the GBA and its Nigerian counterparts.

GOtv Boxing Night, Africa’s premier boxing event sponsored by GOtv, and Flykite Productions, the show’s organisers, have expressed deep sadness over the passing of Segun ‘Success’ Olanrewaju. The former national champion and West African Boxing Union (WABU) champion tragically collapsed and died during a fight at the Bukom Boxing Arena in Accra, Ghana, Saturday night.

Flykite Productions described Olanrewaju’s untimely death as a significant loss to Nigerian boxing, noting that he was a boxer from whom great expectations were held. Flykite Productions highlighted that Olanrewaju participated in five editions of GOtv Boxing Night.

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“We are deeply saddened by the news of Olanrewaju’s death,” Flykite Productions said in a statement. “He was not only a highly promising boxer but also a valued member of the GOtv Boxing Night family. He was a regular presence at GOtv Boxing Night, both as a boxer and as a fan. He would have attended the next edition on 26 April, but for this unfortunate development. We express our heartfelt condolences to his family, the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control and Nigeria’s boxing fraternity as a whole. We pray to God to give the family the fortitude to cope with the loss.” 

Olanrewaju made his debut at GOtv Boxing Night 20, where he triumphed over the highly rated Adewale ‘Masevex’ Masebinu. He continued his success at GOtv Boxing Night 22, defeating Timothy ‘Nsiefinagajie’ Gonze, and at the 23^rd  edition, he overcame Fatai ‘Hit Man’ Balogun. In the 24^th  edition, he claimed victory against David ‘Awosika Cosmos’ and also defeated Victor Bennett at the 25^th  edition.

Enyimba head coach, Yemi Olanrewaju, has blamed fatigue and  his side’s poor form in the final third for their loss to Black Bulls Maputo of Mozambique on Sunday.

The Nigerian side suffered a humiliating 3-0 defeat to the Mozambicans in the day 3 of the CAF Confederation Cup and thus put their qualification for the quarter final in jeopardy.

Olanrewaju in his post-match reaction said: ” If you ask me, I would say it was a good game by my team today, though we lost 3-0.

” The score line did not reflect the true flow of the game, we were in control for a greater part of the match, but I think we lost concentration because of fatigue,” he said. “The goals we conceded were unnecessary, the first two goals came from corner kicks and after the second, it became difficult to fight back.

“We arrived here only yesterday ( Saturday) evening after a hectic schedule.

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” We had a league game on Wednesday in Nigeria, traveled to Lagos on Thursday and left for Mozambique on Friday, it’s been overwhelming for the players and the results is evident in our performance.

“We’ve played five games in the past two weeks. it’s not healthy for the players, given the distance we’re covering.

“For the next CAFCC game, we’ll have played five more league games, it’s clumsy and crazy but hopefully, the authority in Nigeria will step in to help manage our fixtures.

“Our problem this season has been scoring goals, even today we could have scored 3 or 4 goals but it didn’t happen, hopefully we’ll bring in one or two strikers in January to strengthen the team,” he added.

Enyimba FC head coach, Yemi Olanrewaju, has described the club’s CAF Confederation Cup group stage opponents as tough oppositions following Monday’s draw in Cairo, Egypt.

The People’s Elephant will face reigning champions, Zamalek  of Egypt, Al Masry of Egypt and Black Bulls of Mozambique in Group D and Olanrewaju admitted  that they would be up for the challenge.

 “While we may have preferred a less challenging group, true champions know they must be ready to face anyone,” Olanrewaju noted. “This is the toughest group in the competition, but this is Enyimba FC. We will do everything we can to uphold the club’s name and fight to advance.

 “Of course, we are ready. The boys have been performing well in the league, currently sitting in second place with four wins and one loss. Having qualified from the last stage, I believe my team is prepared, but we can definitely improve to compete effectively at this level, to be honest.”

Despite not having too much information about Black Bulls,  Olanrewaju opined that Enyimba would be ready for them.

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 “I’m pleased that we have at least a month to prepare before the continental games begin. This time will allow us to enhance our performance and focus on our development to get ready for the challenges ahead, ” he added.

Enyimba will start their campaign in the group phase against 2023 Egyptian League Cup runners-up Al Masry at Alexandria’s Borg El Arab Stadium on November 28.

Enyimba will host the current holders, Zamalek FC in December at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo before travelling to face Black Bull of Mozambique on December 15 in the first leg of the double header before returning to Uyo on January 5, 2025 for the second leg.

The Aba Elephants will then host Al Masry on January 12 and then Zamalek FC on January 19.

Enyimba failed to score over two legs in the second round preliminary round of CAF Confederations Cup against Burkina Faso’s Etoile Filante but qualified for the group stage via penalties 3-2 in the second leg played at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium Uyo.