By Flinster Austin
Published on 2024-03-18 03:39:45
Nigerian officials and athletes at the boxing event of the ongoing African Games in Ghana found themselves in the midst of controversy yesterday as a controversial decision threatened to overshadow the competition. The focus of the dispute was the reversal of Yakubu Ibrahim’s victory over Morocco’s Barbari Hamza in the light middleweight category.
Ibrahim had emerged victorious in the fight, as indicated by the unanimous decision of the judges with a score of 2-1 (5-0, 2-3, and 3-2) in his favor. However, chaos ensued when the referee unexpectedly overturned the result in favor of the Moroccan boxer.
The judges’ scorecards clearly showed that Ibrahim had dominated the first round with a score of 5-0, narrowly lost the second round by 2-3, and then clinched the third round with a score of 3-2. This led to celebrations among Nigerian officials and supporters who were present at the arena in Accra anticipating Ibrahim’s victory. The sudden reversal of the decision by the referee left everyone perplexed.
Determined to seek justice for Ibrahim, Dapo Akinyele, the Secretary General of the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF), immediately lodged a protest against the decision. However, the match commissioner justified the decision by stating that a review of the bout had prompted the reversal. He advised Nigeria to escalate the matter to the African Boxing Confederation (AFBC) if they were dissatisfied with the explanation.
In response to this development, Akinyele swiftly filed a petition with the AFBC urging them to investigate the matter and overturn the decision before the next light middleweight bout. Expressing his frustration to the media, Akinyele questioned the validity of changing the result of a fight that had been rightfully decided by the judges. He emphasized the need to uphold fairness and integrity in sports, particularly in the face of questionable decisions made to favor certain countries.
As the controversy continued to unfold, the lack of transparency surrounding the referee’s decision to reverse Ibrahim’s victory only added to the confusion and disappointment felt by the Nigerian delegation. Akinyele highlighted the injustice faced by Ibrahim, who had dedicated himself to training rigorously in preparation for the competition, only to have his victory stripped away unjustly.
The unexpected turn of events at the boxing event served as a stark reminder of the challenges and controversies that can arise in the world of sports. The Nigerian delegation’s call for a thorough investigation and a fair resolution underscored the importance of upholding the values of fairness, transparency, and sportsmanship in every aspect of competition. As the AFBC was called upon to intervene and rectify the situation, the hope for a just outcome remained steadfast amongst those who believed in the integrity of the sport.
