Andiego and Mogunde lead Kenyan Hit Squad to Africa Boxing Championships in DRC

Nelson Mandela Cup middleweight gold medallist Elizabeth Andiego (in red) exchanges puches with two time African champion Rady Adosalinda Gramane in the finals of Nelson Mandela Cup at Durban Convention Centre in Durban on April 21, 2024.[FILE]

As was expected Elizabeth Andiego and Boniface Mogunde lead the National Boxing team for the Africa Boxing Championships that boxes-off in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday and ends on October 27.

Team captain Andiego, the Africa Zone Three heavyweight gold medallist and a one-time Africa Championships silver medallist is the most experienced boxer in the squad ahead of Mogunde who is the deputy captain.

However, Andiego will ply in the light heavyweight (81kg) while Mogunde is set for the normal light middleweight (71kg), a division he has plied in for a number of years.

Head coach Musa Benjamin named a squad of nine and three female boxers who are ready to roar in the championships.

All boxers named in the squad have in the past featured in the continental championships save for flyweight Faith Nafuna.

Nafuna has replaced former Commonwealth Games flyweight bronze medallist Christine Ongare who has been dropped.

Speaking before naming of the squad, Benjamin said the boxers were in good shape and ready to give their best at the showpiece.

“The boxers have had good sessions in non-residential training and no one is willing to disappoint having in mind we still have a number of international assignments still lined up,” he told Standard Sports.

THE SQUAD

MINIMUM WEIGHT (48KG) - Silas Onyango

FLYWEIGHT (51KG) - Abednego Kyalo and Faith Nafuna

BANTAMWEIGHT (54KG) - Amina Martha

FEATHERWEIGHT (57KG) - Shaffi Bakari

LIGHTWELTER (60KG) - Aloice Vincent

LIGHT MIDDLEWEIGHT (71KG) - Boniface Mogunde

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (81KG) - Robert Okaka and Elizabeth Andiego

CRUISERWEIGHT (85KG) - Chrispine Ochanda

HEAVYWEIGHT (92KG) - Peter Abuti

SUPER HEAVYWEIGHT (OVER 92) - Clinton Macharia