Boxing: Congolese women win all eight finals in Kinshasa, twelve titles for the DRC in one night

The female boxers of the Democratic Republic of Congo won all eight finals they contested on Friday, October 30, 2026, at the Martyrs Stadium twin gymnasium in Kinshasa during the African Boxing Championships. Adding the four men's titles secured the same evening, the DRC won twelve out of the twelve finals in which it was represented, according to Oeil d'Afrique.

Eight out of eight for the women

Bénédicte Diyoka (45-48 kg) retained her title against Bénie Ndoudi of Congo-Brazzaville, marking her second continental crown. Déborah Boisabu (52-54 kg) defeated Zambian Catherine Mwape by a unanimous decision from the judges. Ruth Yamfu (54-57 kg) won on points against Cameroonian Paule Alliance. Munga Zalia Modestie (57-60 kg), who won bronze nine years ago and silver two years ago, dominated Chamulia Okota of Congo-Brazzaville.

Merveille Mbalayi dispatched Senegalese Maimouna Ka by technical knockout in the very first round. Monique Bampala defeated Cameroonian Balemakem Chepete Lenou, Jorbelle Malewu snatched a narrow victory against Senegalese Aminata Diagne, and Sulamite Tshimwanga (over 81 kg) delivered the eighth and final title of the evening by overcoming Senegalese Khdidiatou Cissé.

Four titles for the men

According to Radio Okapi, Latour Bofenda (46-48 kg) defeated Botswana's Kobamelo Molathegi, Gloire Kolongo (51-54 kg) beat Cape Verdean David Daniel Pina after a hard-fought bout, Beny Njibu (60-63.5 kg) overcame Cape Verdean Kevin Admolson, and Willian Mbangui (80-86 kg) defeated Yannick Harconge Kitsoukou of Congo-Brazzaville. Captain Pita Kabeji, the African champion in the under 92 kg category in Kinshasa in 2024, had qualified for the final after his semi-final against Cameroonian Tobie Engolo and was set to compete in his final during the second session on Saturday, October 31.

Twenty-nine delegations, a ranking to be confirmed

This 22nd edition of the African Boxing Championships, organized under the aegis of the International Boxing Association for the Africa zone, brings together delegations from 29 African countries and several hundred athletes. The official opening ceremony on Thursday, October 22, was presided over by the Congolese Minister of Sports and Leisure, Didier Budimbu. The competition, which began on October 19 according to Radio Okapi and Oeil d'Afrique, concludes on November 1, 2026.

In 2024, also in Kinshasa, the DRC finished second in the medal table behind Morocco, with 21 medals including nine golds, recalls Oeil d'Afrique. The final ranking of nations will determine if the host country performs better this time. But for the Leopards, these twelve titles won in front of their home crowd already carry significant weight.