Defeat is not the end! Aishat Gbadamosi aims for a stronger boxing comeback

Nigerian boxer Aishat Gbadamosi refused to allow her quarter-final elimination from the 2026 African Men’s and Women’s Elite Boxing Championships in Nairobi, Kenya to discourage her ambitions, describing the experience as an opportunity to come back stronger.

READ ALSO: “Instead of fighting, I decided to focus on boxing”: Aishat Gbadamosi’s journey to the African stage | Sports247 Nigeria

The young boxer, who represented Nigeria in the continental competition, said her defeat had given her a reason to work harder and improve her performance for future challenges.

Speaking on Inside Naija on Sport247 after returning from Nairobi, Gbadamosi acknowledged that losing was part of an athlete’s journey and should not be treated as the end of their progress.

“I’m not always going to win. There’s a time when you can lose. You can lose a fight. If I don’t lose, I’ll think I’m the best,” she said.

He added that the experience had given him the motivation to return home and intensify his preparations.

“So that loss gave me the opportunity that, well, I have to come home and train harder to come back,” he explained.

Aishat also expressed concerns about refereeing at the championship, claiming that some decisions appeared to favor certain competitors. However, he maintained that the experience would not stop him from pursuing his boxing ambitions.

Beyond their individual performance, he praised the unity among Nigerian boxers, explaining that his teammates continued to encourage each other even after losing their bouts.

“In boxing we have this idea that even if you lose, you still have to lift others up,” he said.

Nigeria finished the championship with three gold medals and two silver medals, according to the medal table discussed during the interview.

Looking ahead, Aishat revealed that she has set a five-year goal in boxing, believing that constant training and prayer will help her achieve her ambitions.

He is also working to gain admission to college while maintaining his commitment to sports.

For Aishat, the Nairobi experience has provided another lesson in competition: losing a fight does not mean losing the determination to succeed.