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The driver of the Lexus SUV involved in the collision that resulted in the deaths of two associates of former world heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua is currently being detained, according to the Ogun State Police Command.

Joshua and two of his friends, Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, were being transported along the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Monday by the driver.

Ayodele and Ghami were tragically killed at the scene when their Lexus SUV collided with a stationary truck. Minor injuries were suffered by Joshua and the driver.

The driver’s involvement and the immediate causes of the accident are still being investigated, according to Oluseyi Babaseyi, the command’s public relations officer, in a statement released on Thursday in Abeokuta.

Read more about Anthony Joshua’s hospital discharge.

“The Anthony Joshua accident victim’s Lexus SUV driver is currently being detained.” According to Babaseyi, investigations are still ongoing.

After being determined clinically fit to continue his recovery at home, Anthony Joshua was discharged from the hospital late on Wednesday evening.

The former world heavyweight champion’s mother and former world champion Ayodele and Ghami’s bodies were being prepared for repatriation, which was scheduled for last night, when they reportedly visited the funeral home in Lagos yesterday to pay their final respects.

The governors of Lagos and Ogun states expressed condolences to the families of the two young men in a joint statement from Gbenga Omotoso, the governor of Lagos State, and Kayode Akinmade, the governor of Ogun state.

The statement read, “We pray the Almighty gives their families and loved ones the fortitude to bear this very sad and painful loss.”

Following this heartfelt incident, Olu’s governor, Dapo Abiodun, and governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, express their gratitude for the public’s concern and support.

They also express their gratitude to His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the president, for his fatherly assistance throughout this process.

In a 0-0 draw at Anfield that wasted a chance to clinch a place in the Premier League top four, Liverpool lacked the strength to defeat a much-changed Leeds.

The latest in a string of poor performances by Arne Slot’s men, who are now nine games without a win, was comfortably held to avengeance as Leeds comfortably held out to move seven points clear of the relegation zone.

Dominic Calvert-Lewin fired in the visitors’ only goal as they came close to winning the game, but he was flagged offside.

In the race for a spot in the Champions League next season, a point moves Liverpool three points clear of Chelsea and Manchester United.

As he made four changes to replace the in-form Calvert-Lewin in the starting lineup, Leeds manager Daniel Farke had one eye on Saturday’s clash with fierce rivals Manchester United.

Due to Alexander Isak’s injury and Mohamed Salah’s participation in the Africa Cup of Nations, Liverpool were without them.

READ MORE: Man Who Hit Liverpool Parade Jailed For More Than 21 Years.

The Reds rarely threatened to break the deadlock, which was felt because the two top scorers of last season didn’t score in the Premier League.

With the goal gaping in the middle of the first half, Hugo Ekitike’s best chance came when he completely missed Jeremie Frimpong’s driven cross.

Leeds have two meetings with the Premier League champions in addition to their six-game unbeaten run that has kept them out of the relegation zone.

The Reds were frustrated by Daniel Farke’s men’s defensive organization in stark contrast to the 3-3-2 thriller between the sides a little over three weeks ago.

As Calvert-Lewin almost stayed on his goaltending streak, the visitors were just inches away from scoring all three points.

The former Everton striker had scored in his six previous games and had only one goal allowed after veering offside in the penalty area at Anfield.

The former Panthers star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Bruno Ecuele Manga have been suspended from the national team, the sports minister of Ghana has announced, as well as the firing of the coaching staff following their disastrous acclaim at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), their bans on veteran players.

Bazoumana Toure’s injury-time winner sent Gabon to a 3-2 defeat at the AFCON on Wednesday against Ivory Coast, the defending champion.

After falling behind the heavyweights Ivory Coast and Cameroon, but also Mozambique, with a third successive defeat in as many outings.

READ MORE: Côte d’Ivoire Faces Gabon To Secure Top Spot In Group

The government has decided to dissolve the technical staff, suspend the national team until further notice, and fire players Bruno Ecuele Manga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, according to minister Simplice-Desire Mamboula, who was speaking on Gabonese television late on Wednesday.

The video clip of the announcement was removed from the ministry’s official websites and the channel’s online platforms a few hours after it was broadcast, before it was republished on Thursday.

Following Sunday’s 3-2 defeat to 102nd-ranked Mozambique, which ended Gabon’s chances of reaching the knockout stages, the Council of Ministers reviewed the national team’s performance at the Africa Cup of Nations.

A thigh knock caused Aubameyang to resign from his French side Marseille after that defeat.

According to an official statement released on Wednesday, Gabon’s President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema said on Monday, “This has weakened part of our national identity.

The lack of method and the dispersion of resources, he continued, are two of the national team’s biggest issues.

The president vowed to “restore rigour, responsibility, and ambition in the governance of national sport” with “strong and structural decisions.”

After 18 months in charge, Chelsea’s head coach Enzo Maresca announced on Thursday that he would step down.

Enzo Maresca, the head coach of Chelsea Football Club, and the club announced in a statement that they are leaving.

The Italian club is currently fifth in the Premier League, 15 points clear of leaders and rivals Arsenal, with one win in their last seven top-flight games.

In response to reports of a worsening relationship between the coach and the club’s hierarchy, speculation about Maresca’s position grew.

Enzo and the club believe a change has the best chance of getting the season back on track because there are still important goals to be met in four different competitions, including Champions League football, to play for.

Maresca missed the post-game press conference despite being unable to attend the dueling 2-2 draw with Bournemouth on Tuesday due to illness.

He has defended remarks made on December 13 and continues to say that many Chelsea fans don’t support him or the team.

Maresca described the days leading up to Chelsea’s 2-0 victory as “the worst 48 hours” of his tenure there.

His contract was scheduled to expire in 2029, with a year’s worth of club options.

In 2025, Maresca led Chelsea to regaining their place in the Champions League while also winning the Europa Conference League and the Club World Cup.

When the Africa Cup of Nations resumes in Morocco, a star-studded cast that includes Mohamed Salah, Achraf Hakimi, and Victor Osimhen switches to knockout fare.

Hakimi, a Paris Saint-Germain defender, was named the 2025 African Player of the Year in November.

The runners-up were Galatasaray’s Osimhen and Liverpool’s Salah.

The 16 survivors from 24 hopefuls compete in eight second-round matches over the course of eight days after 36 matches spread across six groups.

Morocco will take on Tanzania, Salah will lead Egypt, and Osimhen-inspired Nigeria take on Mozambique. Fit-again Hakimi will take the title game.

What match-ups will determine which countries advance to the quarter-finals and move one step closer to a record $10 million (€8.5 million) first prize.

Sudan vs. Senegal

As 2022 champions Senegal confirmed their position as favorites after winning Group D, veteran Sadio Mane and Paris Saint-Germain’s 17-year-old Ibrahim Mbaye made two appearances off the bench.

Sudan, a nation that has been ravaged by civil war since 2023, advanced to the second round despite the players’ failure to score.

Equatorial Guinea’s only victory in Group F was via an own goal.

Tunisia vs. Mali

After three Group A draws, Belgium-born Mali coach Tom Saintfiet warned his team, “if we keep playing this, we will not go much further.”

Tunisia lost three goals to Nigeria before losing. The Carthage Eagles then scored twice before half-time.

Tanzania vs. Morocco

A discrepancy in terms of reality because Morocco, which only won once in the past 50 years, is 101 places ahead of Tanzania in the world rankings.

The east Africans’ 45-year wait was ended by two draws.

Brahim Diaz from Real Madrid and Ayoub El Kaabi from Olympiacos make up Morocco’s potent strike force.

Riyad Mahrez of Algeria leads them with three goals each, with them each scoring three.

Cameroon vs. South Africa

South Africa defeated Cameroon 3-1 in Johannesburg to make its AFCON debut 30 years ago.

With only four places in the world rankings left, their second meeting should be much closer.

South Africa will turn to Oswin Appollis and Lyle Foster for goals, while Christian Kofane, age 19, scored the game’s winner against Mozambique.

Benin vs. Egypt

Salah has regained his desire for goals in southern Morocco after struggling this season for Liverpool.

With Egypt’s Group B victory, he claimed the match-winners against Zimbabwe and South Africa.

25 years after winning the inaugural AFCON, Benin defeated Botswana.

Although the Cheetahs lack punch upfront, they are a small, spirited, but veteran striker Steve Mounie-led team.

Mozambique vs. Nigeria

With just one goal, Livewire Osimhen poses a significant aerial threat, having lost to Tunisia and Tanzania in Group C, hat-tricks are unlikely to come.

Ademola Lookman, a fellow former African player of the year, impressed as well.

In their previous AFCON match 16 years ago, Mozambique defeated the Super Eagles 3-3.

This time, Geny Catamo, a striker who poses a threat to the Mambas (snakes), will likely be tighter.

Algeria vs. DR Congo

The match of the round might be the conflict between two former champions.

Only two European coaches, Bosnia’s Vladimir Petkovic and Frenchman Sebastien Desabre, are involved in the tie.

The only teams to have triumphed in each of their three group matches were Algeria and Nigeria.

Mahrez, a former winger for Manchester City, has scored three goals as an inspirational captain.

Burkinabe vs. Ivory Coast

Only nations from the same region are matched up in this match.

West Africa is a border between Burkinabe and Ivory Coast, the country’s current champion.

Amad Diallo, a winger for Manchester United, was the only player to receive two player-of-the-match honors in the group stage.

Edmond Tapsoba and Issoufou Dayo, the Ivorian, are now in opposition to the impressive Burkinabe defense duo.

Anthony Joshua, a world-renowned heavyweight boxing champion, has been discharged from the hospital and declared clinically fit to recover at home.

Joshua was discharged on Wednesday, according to a statement signed by the Lagos Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, and Kayode Akinmade, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State’s Information and Strategy, both signed by the two.

The Boxer is currently “heavy-hearted and full of emotions” over the death of his two close friends, according to the statement.

The governments of Lagos and Ogun states express condolences to the families of Lateef Ayodele and Cina Gami, who tragically and regrettably perished in the Anthony Joshua road accident on December 29, 2025.

We pray that the Almighty will allow their families and loved ones to bear this heartbreaking and agonizing loss while allowing them to rest in their souls.

Anthony and his mother paid their last respects to his two departed friends at the funeral home in Lagos this afternoon while they prepared for their repatriation scheduled for later this evening.

“Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu express deep gratitude for the public’s concern and show of love and affection for this extremely tragic and unfortunate incident.”

They also praised Bola Tinubu as a leader for his assistance throughout the process.

We also want to thank the Lagoon Hospital, Ikoyi, medical team that treated Anthony and those who were hurt.

The update came shortly after Joshua’s involvement in a car accident that killed his two close friends on Monday in the Ogun State Makun area.

An SUV carrying Joshua collided with a stationary truck, according to the incident that occurred around 11:00 am along the heavily traveled Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The 35-year-old former heavyweight champion was rescued from the wrecked car on video, which appears to have sustained injuries.

Ogun State Command, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has, however, attributed the collision to a wrongful overtaking and overspeeding.

Afolabi Oyewole, the Ogun State Public Relations Officer for the FRSC, said the driver was traveling at a very high speed before accidentally overtaking and colliding with a stationary truck parked on the extreme shoulder of the road.

We do discuss wrongful overtaking and overspeeding. Every crash will involve human factors, according to “Oyewole said.”

“That horrific accident involving Anthony Joshua happened because the driver was traveling at very high speed,” the driver said. A stationed vehicle was parked at the extreme shoulder of the road when he wrongly overtook and struck it.

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According to him, the impact prevented the car’s drivers from escaping without harm, adding that it was only fortunate that the vehicle’s point of impact was on its right-hand side.

He said, “There was no way he could have saved every other person in that car, but fortunately, the right-hand side of the car hit the truck because he had a bad accident.”