Black Bombers in Belfast for pre-Commonwealth Games training camp

Sports

7 July, 2026

The national amateur boxing team, the Black Bombers, has embarked on a critical phase of its preparations for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, relocating to Belfast, Ireland, for an intensive three-week training and sparring camp. Hosted by the Ulster Provincial Council, the camp represents the final stage of a meticulous build-up that began with the Ghana Boxing Federation and the Commonwealth Games Association of Ghana (CGA), designed to acclimatize the athletes to European conditions and refine their skills against elite international opposition.

The delegation, comprising ten athletes — seven men and three women — arrived in Belfast this week, joining competitors from 18 other nations in a structured programme aimed at sharpening tactical acuity and fostering camaraderie ahead of the Games, scheduled for July 23 to August 2 in Glasgow. The team’s roster includes captain Abdul Wahid Omar (light welterweight, 65kg), vice-captain Amadu Mohammed (bantamweight, 55kg), and notable figures such as Desmond Pappoe (light heavyweight, 80kg), Ebenezer Ankrah (lightweight, 60kg), Precious Akai Nettey (light middleweight, 70kg), Jibril Muntari (heavyweight, 90kg), and Daniel Plange (super heavyweight, +90kg). Completing the line-up are flyweight Ramatu Quaye (51kg), bantamweight Nancy Banfo (54kg), and featherweight Adelaide Djabatey (57kg).

Their journey to Belfast follows a rigorous three-month residential camp at Winneba Sports College, where the initial squad of 25 was trimmed to ten through a regimen focused on physical conditioning and technical precision. Head coach Ofori Asare, assisted by Daniel Lartekwei Lartey and the soon-to-arrive Charles Quartey, has emphasized the importance of this international exposure. “This camp will further boost the team’s morale ahead of the Games,” Asare noted, acknowledging the support of the CGA and the GBF in laying the groundwork.

The athletes themselves express determination to represent Ghana with distinction. Mohammed, speaking on behalf of the squad, articulated their collective ambition: “Every single member of the team has their eyes on a podium finish.” He highlighted the months of effort invested at Winneba and the resolve to conclude their preparations successfully in Belfast, while calling for heightened support from Corporate Ghana and the wider public to achieve their aspirations.

This initiative reflects a broader strategy to elevate Ghana’s sporting prowess on the global stage, echoing recent discussions about [transforming the nation’s sports landscape] through sustained investment and strategic planning.