Ridwan Raheem Advances to African Boxing Finals in Kenya

Ridwan Raheem has reached the final of the men’s 65kg category at the African Elite Men’s and Women’s Boxing Championships in Nairobi, Kenya, after defeating Rwanda’s Niyonzima Pacifique on points in the semi-final on Wednesday. This victory marks him as the fifth Nigerian boxer to reach a final, maintaining the country's hopes for multiple gold medals.

Other Nigerian boxers who have reached the finals include Ajishola Khadijat, Precious Anine, Blessing Orakwe, and Patricia Mbata. This achievement comes after a challenging start for Nigeria's 10-member contingent, which lost five bouts early in the tournament.

Aishat Gbadamosi, Abdulramon Abdulwahab, Emmanuel Chuwuka, and Kenneth Anigboro faced defeats against opponents from Algeria, Egypt, Kenya, and Uganda, with some decisions leading to complaints about officiating. Raheem initiated the turnaround by defeating Algeria’s Ismail Bekhsis on Monday, stating his intention to win convincingly to avoid any controversial decisions.

The focus now shifts to converting the five final appearances into gold medals.