Andiego, Anyango to represent Kenya in inaugural Mandela Cup

Two Kenyan boxers are, this week, set to grace the inaugural edition of the Mandela Cup - formerly the African Boxing Cup - at the Durban International Convention Centre in South Africa.

Boxing Federation of Kenya confirmed that the duo of 2022 Africa Boxing Championships silver medalist Elizabeth Andiego and Kenya Defense Forces welterweight champion Friza Anyango left for the South African city on Wednesday last week via Istanbul.

In a departure from what Mozzart Sport had earlier reported: that up to a squad of 14 boxers would grace the tournament initially scheduled for 9-14 October last year, recent developments this year indicate that due to limited funds, only the two made the trip.

A total of 39 countries - including Bangladesh and Afghanistan - are set to feature in the championships that through the International Boxing Association (IBA), has allocated a total prize money worth 500,000 USD (Ksh. 65,500,000) across 25 weight categories.

Andiego, whose last international appearance came in a 5-0 Round of 32 loss to Lithuania’s Stonkute Gabriele at the Olympics 1st World Qualification Tournament in Busto Arsizio, has received a bye in the tournament draw conducted on Monday, and is in the finals of the middleweight division where she will fight the winner of the semi between Geanne Dicks (South Africa) and Rady Gramane (Mozambique).

Anyango, who was the only boxer to win a bout in the aforementioned Olympic qualifying tournament, will on the other hand begin her journey in the quarter-finals, where she is set to face Cape Verde’s Gomes Moreira on Wednesday.

In the event of a win, she will face Uganda She Bombers captain Emily Nakalema.

The championships, named after Nelson Mandela, the first democratically elected President of South Africa, begin Wednesday, and will last one week marking a historic moment in the sport of boxing.

African Boxing Cup named after Nelson Mandela set to take place in Durban