Kinshasa hosts a record African boxing championship
A record 38 countries and more than 400 boxers are expected at the 22nd African Elite Boxing Championships, and the home team says it intends to stay top of the table.
Kinshasa — The continent's best amateur boxers are gathering in Kinshasa. The Democratic Republic of Congo is hosting the 22nd Africa Boxing Championship for elite women and men, which opens on Friday, and organisers expect a record turnout: 38 countries and more than 400 athletes, Actualité.cd reports.
The home team
The Congolese squad, the Léopards, held its final training session on Thursday at the gymnasium beside the Stade des Martyrs. National technical director Toussaint Lofanga said the boxers' preparation had been thorough, that he was confident they were ready, and that the team's goal is to keep the DRC in first place in the rankings.
Why it matters
- It is the largest field the championship has drawn, according to the organisers' figures.
- Hosting puts Kinshasa at the centre of African boxing for the duration of the event, with home fans able to watch the national team in person.
- Continental championships are where many African boxers earn the ranking and experience that carry them to world and Olympic competition.
The full schedule and the names of the Congolese boxers had not been published at the time of writing.
Source: Actualité.cd, 22 October 2026.
