ANTHONY JOSHUA POSTS UPDATE FOR FIRST TIME SINCE CAR CRASH

Anthony Joshua sat pictured with his mum (right) and three women / AJ Instagram 
 

Anthony Joshua has posted on social media for the first time since he was injured in a car crash that killed two of his close friends in Nigeria.

The British boxer, 36, was a passenger in a Lexus SUV that collided with a stationary truck on a major expressway near Lagos.

His close friends and team members Sina Ghami and Latif "Latz" Ayodele died in the crash. Their funerals took place at a London mosque on Sunday.

The former two-time heavyweight champion was taken to hospital and discharged on Wednesday before returning to the UK this weekend.

On Sunday morning he posted two pictures on Instagram, one which shows him sitting alongside his mother and three women, with one holding a photograph of Ghami.

The post has the caption: "My Brothers Keeper."

Driver Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, was charged at Sagamu Magistrates' Court on Friday. Police sources told the BBC the charges included causing death by dangerous driving.

 "The defendant was granted bail of 5m naira (£2,578) and remanded pending his bail conditions being met. The case has been adjourned until 20 January.

Joshua, who was born in Watford, has family roots in Sagamu - a town in Ogun state, near the crash site.

The 2012 Olympic champion was on his way to visit relatives for New Year celebrations in the town at the time of the collision, a family member told the BBC.

The boxer had been spending time in Nigeria after his recent victory over American YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul on 19 December.

 - Sky Sports 

ANTHONY JOSHUA LOST HIS CLOSE FRIENDS IN THE HORRIFIC ACCIDENT IN OGUN STATE

 

Anthony Joshua’s close friends, Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, have been named as the two victims in the horror car crash involving the British heavyweight boxer in Nigeria 

Ayodele and Ghami, both believed to be in their mid-30s, died after a Lexus SUV crashed into a stationary truck at a high speed on the notoriously dangerous Lagos-Ibadan highway.

A statement from an official spokesperson for Anthony Joshua said: “It is with the deepest and most profound sadness that we confirm, following a road traffic accident in Lagos Nigeria earlier today, the death of Sina Ghami and Kevin ‘Lateef’ Ayodele. 

“Both were close friends and integral members of Anthony’s team. We respectfully ask that space and privacy be given to the families at this time while they process this truly shocking and devastating news.” 

BOXING GREAT ANTHONY JOSHUA INVOLVED IN A DEADLY ACCIDENT IN NIGERIA | PICTURES

 

ANTHONY JOSHUA ACCIDENT VIDEO IN MAKUN, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

 

ANTHONY JOSHUA INJURED IN CAR CRASH, TWO PEOPLE DEAD

Anthony Joshua, the two-time world heavyweight champion, has been injured in a car crash that killed two people.

The Lexus Jeep, which was carrying Joshua, collided with a stationary truck along a busy highway of the Lagos-Ibidan expressway in Makun, Ogun State, Punch newspaper reported.

The story also included the Jeep’s registration number as well as a photograph of Joshua, sitting in the back seat surrounded by broken glass.

The 36-year-old, whose parents are Nigerian, is said to have sustained minor injuries while two others 'died on the spot.' The investigation to determine the cause of the crash is currently ongoing.

An eyewitness, named as Adeniyi Orojo, who was also described as ‘part of the rescue mission’ described the full horror of the collision.

Orojo told Punch: “It was a two-vehicle convoy: a Lexus SUV and a Pajero SUV. Joshua was seated behind the driver, with another person beside him.

"There was also a passenger sitting beside the driver, making four occupants in the Lexus that crashed. His security detail was in the vehicle behind them before the crash.

"Other eyewitnesses and I began the rescue and flagged down oncoming vehicles to assist. A few minutes after the crash, officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps arrived. The passenger beside the driver and Joshua died on the spot."

Joshua is on holiday in Nigeria following his victory over Jake Paul in Miami on December 19. The London 2012 Olympic gold medalist stopped former Youtuber Paul in the sixth of their eight-round contest at Kaseya Center.

He had been scheduled to return to the ring in either February or March with a summer showdown with the currently retired Tyson Fury still part of his plans.

-  DECLAN TAYLOR