By Tony Ubani, Maputo
The celebration was golden when three Nigerian boxers punched their way to the finals of the boxing event of the 10th All Africa Games ongoing in Maputo. But it all turned to despair in the final.

For a Nigerian team desirous of gold to close the ever-widening gap of the medals table, permutations took the better part of discussions by officials, athletes and Journalists who were speaking in low tones of what awaits Team Nigeria if she fail to finish among the 1-3 nations as predicted by Sports Minister, Alhaji Yussuf Suleiman.

For a troubled sport which saw coach Obisia Nwankpa sacked from the Games Village and denied access to the ring, the Nigerians crumbled like pack of cards, dashing the high hopes placed on them thereby making the permutations null and void. An inkling that the night would end in disaster started when judges and umpires delayed the commencement of the bouts as they protested non payment of their ticket refunds.

Ademuyiwa Kehinde started the free fall when he lost to Camerounian Mulema Joseph. They tied at 10 – 10 but the judges gave the fight to the Camerounian. Nigerians including Solomon Ogba, Dr Awoture Eleyae, House of Reps member, Godfrey Gaya cheered lustfully but bite their fingers in frustration. Lawal Lukman showed how not to win gold when he lost miserably 18 – 8 to a better punching Algerian Benchebia Abdelha.

By this time, the weak-hearted took their leave and another rastaman, Apochi Efetebor who delighted the crowd with his shadow boxing completed an agonising night for Nigeria. He queued with his losing mates succumbing to yet another Algerian Bouloudinet Choua 19 – 8.

“I don’t know what happened. They chased me out”, Obisia offered when I sought his opinion on the disastrous outing of Nigerian boxers. “I’m not in charge. Go and ask Idika Nsofor. He(Idika) wanted to sit by the ring-side to displace Tony Konyegwachie. I objected because he was registered as Technical Adviser.

We are coaches and are the ones meant to sit by the ring side to offer advise. Without any fight,  they decamped me”, Obisia said.

Though Nsofor could not be reached, however, Scribe of Boxing Federation, Dr Patrick Uwagbale said that the two had long been involved in a fight for superiority. “It’s beyond that. The two are always quarreling  over who is in charge”.

And it was this needless fight that rubbed mud on the name of Nigeria and ended our dream for gold.