Omole Joshua has joined the list of boxers that will represent the country at the Paris 2024 Olympics after securing qualification in Senegal.
He also became the first Nigerian male boxer to secure a ticket to Paris 2024 Olympic Games after beating Ethiopia’s Yadesa Leta in the final of the men’s 57kg at the African Olympics Qualifiers in Senegal.
The Lagos-born pugilist was unbeaten from the first round with two knockouts in the first and quarter-final rounds of the tournament and was flawless in the final against the Ethiopian.
The Ethiopian wanted to use the third round to counter Omole, but the Nigerian pugilist showed experience and perseverance to maintain his dominance till the end of the bout to be crowned the champion which automatically secured him a place at Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
To emerge champion, southpaw Omole knocked out Sierra Leone’s Abu Kanu in the Round of 32, secured a unanimous decision of 5-0 over Ghana’s Wabib Omar in Round of 16.
He recorded his second knockout in the quarter-final against Namibia’s Morning Ndevelo.
In an explosive encounter against Cameroon’s Christian Sangue, Omole again was adjudged the winner by unanimous decision of 5-0 by the five judges.
Nigeria’s last outing in the boxing event of the Olympic Games was Rio 2026 as Efe Ajagba was the sole representative in Brazil.
