Charles Osei Asibey, President of the Africa Armwrestling Federation, Vice President of the World Armwrestling Federation and founder of the Ghana Armwrestling Federation, has criticised Black Bombers head coach Ofori Asare over Ghana’s boxing performance at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, urging the veteran trainer to accept responsibility instead of making excuses.
His comments come after Ofori Asare attributed the team’s disappointing campaign to logistical challenges, including a lack of essential equipment during the competition, where Ghana’s boxing contingent returned home with only a bronze medal.
The Black Bombers coach revealed that the team had to compete under difficult conditions, saying the boxers lacked basic kits throughout the tournament. “We didn’t receive kits during the tournament. At one point, three boxers had to share a single pair of boxing shorts, and we even borrowed training gear from the centre just to prepare,” Ofori Asare disclosed after the team’s return.
The veteran coach also rejected suggestions that he was responsible for assembling the team, insisting his role only began after the squad had already been chosen. “I wasn’t involved in selecting the final team. I only came in to train the boxers once the selection had been made,” Ofori Asare explained.
Osei Asibey: ‘Coach Should Admit He Failed’
Responding to the coach’s remarks, Osei Asibey said the explanations by Ofori Asare should not take attention away from the team’s performance, insisting the coach should acknowledge that the Black Bombers fell short of expectations. “Coach Ofori Asare should just admit that he failed,” Osei Asibey said.
He further disclosed that the Ghana Boxing Federation had not wanted Ofori Asare to lead the team to the Commonwealth Games, although he declined to reveal the circumstances behind that position.
The exchange has added to discussions surrounding Ghana’s boxing campaign, with Ofori Asare maintaining that inadequate preparation and logistical shortcomings affected the team’s performance, while Osei Asibey believes the focus should remain on the results achieved in Glasgow.
The Black Bombers finished the Games with a solitary bronze medal achieved by Anadu Mohammed in the 55kg event despite hopes of mounting a stronger challenge for multiple medals.
Ghana’s Overall Campaign Deserves Credit, Says Osei Asibey
Despite his criticism of the boxing team, Osei Asibey defended Team Ghana’s overall performance at the Commonwealth Games, arguing that the country’s campaign should not be measured solely by the number of medals won.
According to him, Ghana’s participation across the various sporting disciplines amounted to a “semi-final finish” because several athletes advanced to the latter stages of their competitions.
He pointed to Benjamin Azamati’s appearance in the men’s 100 metres final, where he placed seventh, as well as Joseph Paul Amoah’s seventh-place finish in the men’s 200 metres final.
Osei Asibey also highlighted the performance of Ghana’s men’s 4×100 metres relay team, which finished fourth after narrowly missing out on a medal.
Ghana briefly looked set to claim bronze after Canada was initially disqualified, a result that would have delivered the country’s first Commonwealth Games athletics medal in 52 years. However, Canada’s successful appeal restored its podium finish, leaving Ghana outside the medals.
While Team Ghana concluded the Games with only two medals and no gold, Osei Asibey believes the number of finalists, semi-finalists and quarter-finalists across different sports demonstrates that the country’s athletes produced a respectable performance overall, even if the medal table did not fully reflect their efforts.
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