In what will likely be a fourth conflict in sports activities between Nigeria and Cameroon in 2024, British-Nigerian Anthony Joshua is about to battle the formidable Cameroonian-born Francis Ngannou on the primary occasion of the ‘Knockout Chaos’ card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Friday (in the present day), PETER AKINBO writes
The first conflict between Nigeria and Cameroon in 2024 was in handball, when Nigeria, on January 26, defeated Cameroon 33-25 to emerge champions of the President’s Cup, a continental handball competitors.
The following conflict might be the one which garnered probably the most consideration amongst followers and residents of each nations because it got here within the Africa Cup of Nations spherical of 16 in Ivory Coast on January 27.
Two objectives from Ademola Lookman ensured the Tremendous Eagles received the sport 2-0 in a superior efficiency over archrivals Indomitable Lions.
In the newest assembly between each international locations on February 26, Nigeria received as soon as once more, this time within the Olympic qualifiers in opposition to the Cameroonians. The Falcons edged the Lionesses 1-0 on mixture within the third spherical of the qualifiers to edge nearer to a ticket to the Paris Video games.
Now, on Friday (in the present day) evening (11:30pm Nigerian time), two boxers of Nigerian and Cameroonian descent will face-off as soon as once more as Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou take to the ring on the Kingdom Area in Riyadh and Nigerian followers will likely be eager on persevering with the successful streak over their japanese neigbours.
After the Tremendous Eagles defeated the Lions in Ivory Coast, some Cameroonians took to social media saying Joshua pays for the Eagles win when heclashes with Ngannou.
Jude Asahmbom III warned on Fb, “It’s Anthony Joshua that can undergo the results.”
One other Cameroonian Beardedzz posted, “Let Anthony Joshua simply put together himself to finish up at a Hospital. Ngannou will unleash our anger on him.”
Belief Nigerians, they gave it again to their neighbours in equal folds.
An X consumer, Sports activities Physician mentioned, “Anthony Joshua, this combat is now extra than simply your combat, it’s ‘Nigeria vs Cameroon’ half 2. No gree for Francis Ngannou oooh.”
Now that the D-day is right here, followers from each international locations will likely be glued to their screens when each males step in for the highly-anticipated bout.
Within the first half of 2023, Joshua repeatedly dismissed the prospect of going through Ngannou, viewing him purely as a legendary UFC heavyweight champion, but not somebody who might ever problem any of the highest names in boxing.
That view ended as quickly as Ngannou dropped Fury within the third spherical of their bout in October. It was a punch that momentarily shocked the world earlier than Fury did what was required to win on factors.
After that bout, nevertheless, the Cameroonian earned appraisal as a bona fide risk to boxing’s heavyweight division.
Joshua will likely be eager to placed on a present on the Kingdom Area for the second time within the house of 10 weeks.
His final opponent on December 23, Otto Wallin, had been anticipated to offer Joshua with a tough take a look at, however the 34-year-old was at his composed ruthless finest, rapidly eradicating the pre-bout perception that Wallin had confirmed as he raced to a fourth-round KO win.
This was Joshua’s third win of 2023 as he returned to the highest of the heavyweight rankings behind solely champions Oleksandr Usyk and Fury.
Ngannou will likely be a very completely different beast as a consequence of his energy, toughness and sheer measurement and Joshua has promised that he won’t underestimate the Cameroonian.
“He’s been boxing. His first dream was to be a boxer, which individuals neglect. I do know what I’m up in opposition to; I take a look at all of those small particulars. I spar; I do my movie examine, all that kind of stuff,” he mentioned.
Nonetheless, Joshua nonetheless needs to make an announcement with a knockout.
“I consider I can knock him out,” Joshua solely instructed Sky Sports activities. “Undoubtedly. I might like to knock him out and make an announcement.
“Bodily I really feel robust, feeling good. Robust sufficient to get the job finished and mentally I’m in a spot the place I’m prepared for battle. I’m wanting ahead to the problem.”
Ngannou, who now has the expertise of combating a prime boxer, believes his robust exhibiting in his professional boxing debut in opposition to Fury has given him confidence.
“I really feel assured sufficient, primarily based on my coaching, the laborious work that I put in, it (combat in opposition to Fury) was a great expertise and it positively guided me higher to have correct coaching.
“Each house I’ve open, I’m going to hit … I’m not going to go away any stone unturned and any alternative unexplored,” the previous UFC heavyweight champion mentioned.
Former UFC middleweight champion Israel Adesanya shared his ideas on the boxing bout between his good friend Ngannou and his compatriot Joshua.
He mentioned, “Joshua can field, he’s a grasp at it, however I understand how Francis fights.
“Ngannou is aware of how you can make an amazing combat. He confirmed in his final combat within the ring that he can beat, if not the very best, then among the best boxers of this era or ever. It’s not my place to select a winner however I’ve a wierd feeling that you could’t blink on this combat.”
Interim NBF president Azania Omo-Agege is assured of a Joshua win as he trusts his technical means over energy punches.
“My guess is on Joshua. With the sort of expertise Joshua has in boxing, he’s positive to win. Ngannou is hoping his energy punch knocks out Joshua however it’s all about technical means, which makes Joshua have the benefit,” Omo-Agege instructed our correspondent.
A Nigerian combats sports activities lover, Adeolu Sangobowale, believes something can occur in a heavyweight bout however expects Joshua to win.
“I believe Joshua wins, however they’re heavyweights and so something can occur.
“Joshua simply has to outbox and outmaneuver him and keep away from his proper hand, similar as Usyk did to him. He ought to field first and search for the knockout second as a result of Ngannou’s attain will likely be an issue.”
