Africa Boxing Championship: Kenyan boxers hit where it matters most

Team Kenya celebrates Boniface Mogunde's (with yellow towel on his shoulder) gold medal at the Africa Boxing Championships in Kinshasa, DRC on October 26,2024.[Courtesy]

With baby steps, Kenya's boxing seems to be on the road to recovery.

It has been a painstaking journey, no doubt, but the boxers have vowed to regain the continental glory they once enjoyed in the 70s and 80s.

Kenya finished third behind eventual winners and defending champions Morocco and hosts Democratic Republic of Congo as curtains came down on the week-long Africa Boxing Championships in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, over the weekend.

Kenya bagged one gold, two silver and five bronze medals behind Morocco, who had four gold, three silver and four bronze medals. Hosts DRC, who scooped four gold, two silver and three bronze medals, were second.

Kenyaa's performance is an improved form compared with last year's results in Younde, Cameroon, where they won seven bronze medals.

It had been seven years since Kenya last won a gold medal at the championships, since former captain lightweight champion Nick Okoth's triumph in Congo Brazzaville, in 2017.

This time round, Boniface Mogunde did Kenya proud after defeating Nduwarugira Nesta of Burundi in the light middleweight final.

"It was an easy match in all the three rounds. But my opponent had planned to knock me out, but I slowed him down as I hit my targets while scoring points to deliver the gold," he told Standard Sports.

Head coach Musa Benjamin praised the team for a good performance.

"Such improvements are what will make us perform better in other future international global championships," Benjamin said.

"This is a journey we all need to take. It shows that we are heading in the right direction."

Other medallists at the continental event were silver medallists captain Elizabeth Andiego (light heavyweight) and super heavyweight Clinton Macharia.

The bronze medallists were flyweight Abednego Kyalo, bantamweights Shaffi Bakari and Amina Martha, light welterweight Alloice Vincent and light heavyweight Robert Okaka.

Senegal finished fourth after scooping one gold, one silver and two bronze medals ahead of Cameroon's one gold and one bronze medals.

Congo Brazzaville had one silver and three bronze medals.