Desmond Pappoe overcame stiff opposition from Josh Tonga of Tonga to edge a tight round of 16 tie via a razor thin 3-2 split decision to secure passage to the quarter-finals on Monday, bringing to five the number of Black Bombers still standing in boxing competition at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Pappoe, 19, claimed a close 30-27, 28-29, 29-28, 28-29 victory in men’s 80 kg (Light Heavyweight) clash to join Mohammed Amadu (55 kg), Precious Akai Nettey (70 kg), Jibril Muntari (90 kg) and Daniel Plange (90+) in the quarter finals, all just a win away from a guaranteed medal.
Pappoe, a gold medalist from the 2025 African Youth Championships who also competed at both the 2024 IBA World Youth and 2025 IBA World Championships, takes on Canadian born of Ghanaian descent Joshua Ofori on Wednesday afternoon for a place in Friday’s semi-finals.
Also qualifying from the round of 16 on Monday was light middleweight contender Nettey who spectacularly saw off Elijah Qiokata of Fiji courtesy a round two stoppage in the round of 16. The 21 year old next faces 33 year old Merven Clair of Mauritius in the last 8 come Wednesday.
Heavyweight Muntari and super heavyweight slugger Plange
Meanwhile both drew byes into the quarter-finals and need just one win to make the podium. Muntari, 28, comes up against Garyn McAllister of Northern Ireland tomorrow for a podium spot, while Plange, 27, battles William John McCartan, also of Northern Ireland, on Wednesday for a guaranteed Commonwealth Games medal.
In the men’s 55kg division, Amadu Mohammed who was the first to grab a win for Ghana in any sport in Glasgow on Sunday, faces England’s Ellis Trowbridge tomorrow, knowing victory guarantees at least a bronze medal.
19-year-old Ebenezer Ankrah, also of 2024 IBA World Youth Champonships and 2025 IBA World Youth Championships fame however is out after suffering a controversial 2-3 split decision loss to host nation Scotland’s Nicholas Devlin at men’s 60 kg (lightweight), despite a valiant effort.
He is joined by hitherto the last woman standing, Ramatu Quaye who proved no match for Amber-Jane Wall of Canada in women’s 51 kg. It brings to five the total number of Ghanaian boxers eliminated thus far following previous exits of two-time medalist Abdul Wahid Omar last Friday as well as Nancy Bamfo and Adelaide Djabatey yesterday.
With five boxers still having a shot at the podium in Glasgow 2026, Ghana will be hoping to surpass the total of three medals – two silver, one bronze – the Bombers secured at the last Commonwealth Games in Birmingham four years ago.
