Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua has paid an emotional tribute to two close friends killed in a car crash in Nigeria, describing them as “brothers” and “great men”.

Mr. Joshua sustained minor injuries in the December 29 crash and, after being discharged from hospital, returned to England before attending the funerals of Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami last Sunday.

“Thank you for all the love and care you have shown my brothers. I didn’t even realise how special they are. I’ll just be walking with them and cracking jokes with them, not even knowing God kept me in the presence of great men.

“100 per cent, it’s tough for me, but I know it’s even tougher for their parents. I have a strong mind, and I believe God knows their hearts. May God have mercy on my brothers,” Mr. Joshua wrote in a post on X.

Mr. Ayodele, the personal trainer of the former two-time unified heavyweight champion, and Mr. Ghami, his long-time strength and conditioning coach, both died at the scene of the crash on December 29.

Nigerian police have charged the driver of the vehicle, Mr. Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, with dangerous driving causing death.

The accident occurred on a busy highway linking Lagos and Ibadan in south-west Nigeria when the Lexus SUV in which they were travelling rammed into a stationary truck.

Mr. Joshua, 36, who has family roots in Nigeria, was on holiday in the country following his victory over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami on December 19.