National boxing team ‘The bombers’ has settled for two bronze medals at this year’s Africa Championships that climax today in Maputo, Mozambique.

This is after featherweight Jonathan Kyobe and middleweight Yusuf Nkobeza bowed out at the semi-finals of the championship to end Uganda's hopes of securing gold at the championships.

Kyobe fought his heart out but failed to defeat a resilient home-based Armando Rugoberto Sigauque who edged him out.

The two went toe to toe for the entire three rounds before Sigauge won the tightly close contest on a 3-2 split decision.

With Kyobe eliminated, Uganda’s hopes to vie for gold then turned to Nkobeza’s rescue.

But the Nakawa Boxing Club pugilist was cut short losing similarly like Kyobe to Morocco’s Dris Gharroumi in one of the day’s thrillers.

Fearless and combative, Nkobeza’s loss would have gone either way but only a point separated the tie.

According to the score sheet, the bout ended 29-28,29-28 29-28, 28-29, and 28-29 in Gharroumi’s favor.

This left Nkobeza frustrated and in disbelief that he failed to punch his way to the finals.

“I did everything right but in the end, victory was awarded to the Moroccan. Everyone saw I won this fight but I feel so disappointed the victory went the other way” Nkobeza told Vision Sports through a WhatsApp call.

Nkobeza and Kyobe will return home with two bronze and $2500 equivalent of sh9m each.

Moses Muhangi, the Uganda Boxing Federation (UBF) president who was the leader of the delegation in Maputo cited poor preparation as one of the reasons that cost them.

“We have learned some lessons in this championship that we must rectify as soon as possible. We need to go back to the drawing board. We could only afford bronze because of the poor preparation and lack of financial support from those concerned” Muhangi stated.

Seven boxers including one female represented Uganda in this Championship.