Financial constraints cost Botswana World Boxing Cup appearance

Calistus Kolantsho | Tuesday April 21, 2026 09:52

The event is organised by World Boxing, which Botswana joined as way of securing Olympics qualification. BoBA president, Dirang Thipe who also sits on the World Boxing arm of Africa Boxing board, told Sport Monitor that they did not send a team to the World Boxing Cup because the trip was beyond their budget.

“I have forgotten about the World Boxing Cup, because I have counselled myself about not taking a team there because of lack of funding. The competition comes at the end of the financial year and as a sport person, and I know our financial calendar, we thought it is beyond us,” he said.

“For us to have failed to send a team to Brazil affects us a lot because we are preparing for Commonwealth Games, participation was going to assist us a lot.”

When asked about dual membership to World Boxing and International Boxing Association (IBA), Thipe explained that they are focusing on World Boxing rules and regulations in the newly established Boxing League,

This, he said, are the same rules that will be used at the Commonwealth Games.

Several African nations will be represented at the World Boxing Cup namely Equatorial Guinea, Morocco, Guinea, Tunisia, Egypt, Nigeria, and Libya.

Two Algerian International Technical Officials (ITOs), Dr Ammora Nacera and Riadh Badji will officiate at the World Boxing Cup.

Other nations that have confirmed they are sending large delegations of more than 10 boxers to compete at the event include Belgium, China, Dominican Republic, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, Spain, Tajikistan, Türkiye and USA.

Meanwhile, BoBA launched the National Boxing League at Molefi Senior Secondary School in Mochudi over the weekend. The Minister of Child Welfare and Basic Education, Nono Kgafela-Mokoka was unveiled as the BoBA Patron.