Kenyan national women’s boxing captain Elizabeth Andiego has spoken out after a controversial decision cost her the gold medal at the 21st African Boxing Championships in Kinshasa, DR Congo.
The light-heavyweight boxer is urging judges to prioritize fairness and impartiality to protect the integrity of the sport and support the hard work that fighters put in to prepare for bouts.
Andiego, who lost in a split decision to Morocco’s Hasna Larti, expressed deep disappointment with the outcome, especially after she felt she had dominated the match.
“Coming to this African Championship, I was prepared and confident about winning the gold and becoming the African champion,” Andiego shared.
“But the outcome was shocking. I don’t understand how the judges saw the fight because I gave it my all and felt in control of most rounds.” She added.
Andiego’s comments follow a heart-wrenching final where, despite her strong performance, she fell short on points in a decision that she and many of her supporters found questionable.
The split decision was particularly frustrating for Andiego, who has represented Kenya since 2010 and has dedicated her career to excelling in the sport.
“I dominated the first and third rounds,” she added, “yet the decision did not reflect that. It’s disappointing because I know I deserved to win.”
The Kenyan captain believes that inconsistent judging compromises the values of boxing, which relies heavily on fairness, discipline, and respect.
“Going forward, let’s just be fair,” she continued. “Whoever deserves the win should be awarded it. Let’s maintain true sportsmanship in this clean sport.”
Andiego has faced tough losses before, but she described this particular outcome as one of the most painful in her career.
She urged officials to understand the emotional and physical toll it takes on athletes when controversial decisions overshadow hard-earned results.
“I can’t explain how I lost; it’s still so disappointing and frustrating. I worked incredibly hard to get here, only to lose this way. It’s unfair.”
As one of Kenya’s top female pugilists, Andiego’s call for fairness reflects a broader issue in combat sports, where judging inconsistencies have often left athletes questioning their results.
Andiego hopes her message will inspire a commitment to objective judging, ensuring that every boxer’s efforts are rewarded appropriately and that the sport remains a beacon of integrity and sportsmanship.
