Alcinda Panguana, Rady Gramane, and Tiago Muxanga, three of the biggest names in Mozambican boxing, will not participate in the African Boxing Championships to be held in the Democratic Republic of Congo, starting this Thursday. The decision was made by the national coach, Lucas Sinoia, due to the short preparation time for the athletes after the Olympic Games.
Alcinda Panguana and Rady Gramane, both two-time African champions, won titles in Maputo in 2022 and in Yaoundé, Cameroon, last year. However, this time they will not be able to defend their crowns. For Tiago Muxanga, their absence represents the loss of an opportunity to win his first African medal.
The three boxers, who received 30 days of rest after the Olympic Games, returned to training close to the competition, which motivated Sinoia to opt for taking athletes who were in better physical and technical condition to the tournament. Therefore, four other boxers will represent the country in the continental championship.
Despite the notable absences, Mozambican boxing remains a benchmark on the continent, and the athletes not selected will concentrate their efforts on the regional championship, which will be held in Maputo in December. The focus now shifts to this competition, where the country hopes to reaffirm its prominent position in regional boxing.
