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Too African When He Loses, Too British When He Wins? The Anthony Joshua Flag Controversy Explained”
Sometimes, the loudest arguments say more about the speaker than the person they’re attacking. That’s exactly what’s playing out right now with heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua and the unnecessary outrage over one simple act: waving the Nigerian flag after a victory.
Following one of Joshua’s wins, UK politician Nick Buckley publicly criticized him for celebrating with the Nigerian flag instead of the UK flag. His argument? That you can’t be a UK citizen and still proudly represent what he dismissed as a “third world country” like Nigeria. Yes, he actually said that.
And that’s where the hypocrisy becomes impossible to ignore.
Here’s the pattern many people have noticed for years:
When Anthony Joshua loses, sections of the UK media are quick to label him “Nigerian.”
When he wins, suddenly he’s expected to be exclusively British and conform to a neat little box that ignores his roots.
You can’t have it both ways.
Anthony Joshua didn’t wave the Nigerian flag out of disrespect to the UK. He waved it because identity is not a switch you turn on and off depending on public convenience. He is British by nationality, Nigerian by blood, culture, and heritage—and he has never hidden that. In fact, he has always spoken openly and proudly about his roots.
Calling Nigeria a “third world country” in a dismissive tone doesn’t diminish Nigeria—it exposes a mindset that still struggles with multicultural reality. Nigeria is home to millions of brilliant, resilient, world-class people across the globe. Anthony Joshua is one of them.
What Joshua did wasn’t political. It was personal. It was cultural. It was honest.
And honestly? That’s something worth celebrating even louder.
Because a man who knows where he comes from cannot be easily shaken. A champion who embraces his roots doesn’t lose value—he gains depth.
So instead of trying to police which flag someone is allowed to wave, maybe it’s time to ask a better question:Why does pride in African heritage still make some people uncomfortable?
Anthony Joshua chose authenticity over approval. And for that, he deserves even more respect, not less ❤️🇳🇬🥊
What do you think about this controversy?
Drop your thoughts in the comments—let’s talk about it.
