Sports
2025 All-Africa Senior Badminton Championship: Opeyori Clinches Seventh African Title as Team Nigeria Bags Three Medals
Nigeria’s badminton star Anuoluwapo Juwon Opeyori has secured his seventh African title after a 2-0 (21-7, 23-21) victory over Egypt’s Adham Hatem Elgamal in the men’s singles final of the All-Africa Senior Badminton Championship in Douala, Cameroon, on Sunday.
Opeyori came into the tournament as the defending champion and reaffirmed his dominance with a flawless run to the title. He began his campaign with a commanding 2-0 victory over Algeria’s M. Ouchefoun in the Round of 32, followed by another straight-set win against Reunion’s T. Cougouille in the Round of 16. In the quarterfinals, he overcame a tough challenge from Mauritius’ J. Bongout, securing a 2-1 victory. The semifinal saw him dispatch Morocco’s Bourroum P. Nolem in straight sets before clinching the title with his final win against Elgamal.
His final match saw the Nigerian star showcase his experience, composure, and technical brilliance. He stormed through the first set 21-7 before holding off a spirited fightback from the Egyptian in the second, eventually sealing the gold medal with a 23-21 win.
The victory cements Opeyori’s status as Africa’s best, making him a five-time consecutive champion of the All-Africa Senior Badminton Championships (2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025). He has also won two All-Africa Games gold medals (2019 and 2023/2024), bringing his total continental singles titles to seven.
Reacting to his victory, an elated Opeyori credited his success to hard work and perseverance.
“This victory means a lot to me. It has been a tough tournament, but I stayed focused and gave my best in every match. Coming in as the defending champion, I knew I had a target on my back, but I was determined to retain my title,” he said.
“Winning my seventh African gold is a huge achievement, and I’m grateful to my coaches, teammates, the Nigerian Badminton Federation, and the National Sports Commission for their support. I hope this inspires younger players to keep pushing for excellence,” he added.
President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih, praised Opeyori’s performance, extolling the two-time Olympian’s consistency and contribution to Nigerian badminton.
“Anuoluwapo Opeyori has once again proven why he is Africa’s best. His dedication, discipline, and winning mentality continue to raise the profile of Nigerian badminton. This victory is not just for him but for the entire country. We are proud of his achievements and remain committed to supporting him and other players as we prepare for more international competitions,” he said.
He further added: “I also want to appreciate the entire Team Nigeria contingent for their strong display throughout the tournament. The effort and resilience of our coaches and players in all categories were commendable, and we remain confident in their ability to achieve even greater success on the global stage.”
The six-day championship, which ran from February 10-16, saw Nigeria field 10 athletes—five men and five women—who competed across five categories. Team Nigeria finished the tournament with three medals—one gold and two bronze—as the mixed doubles pair of Ukeh Deborah and Alhaji Aliyu Shehu secured bronze against Egypt, while the men’s doubles duo of Ikechukwu Victor and Emmanuel Joseph won bronze against Algeria.
Featured
Nigeria’s Historic Bid for the 2030 Commonwealth Games: A Call for National and Global Support
Joel Ajayi
Nigeria is poised to make history as it seeks to host the Centenary Commonwealth Games in 2030, a monumental opportunity that promises to transform the nation’s economy, infrastructure, and global standing.
More than a sporting spectacle, the Games would serve as a catalyst for development across multiple sectors, leaving behind a legacy of national pride and sustainable growth.
The benefits of hosting the Games extend far beyond the sports arena. Nigeria stands to gain both empirical and non-empirical advantages, with direct, indirect, and induced impacts that will touch every corner of society. Infrastructural development will take center stage, with new facilities such as indoor sports halls, conference centers, and improved road networks reshaping urban landscapes while strengthening the nation’s capacity to host future international events.
Economic growth is another significant dividend. Over 10,000 jobs are expected to be created, spanning construction, facility management, event planning, and tourism services.
The hospitality industry will undergo major improvements as hotels and resorts are upgraded to meet international standards, while local restaurants, lounges, and tourist attractions will see a surge in patronage from international visitors. Small and medium enterprises, particularly in the transport, finance, and food service sectors, will become some of the greatest beneficiaries, as the Games generate new demand and expand opportunities for local businesses.
The Commonwealth Games will also accelerate the growth of Nigeria’s sports industry.
Investments in training facilities, coaching, and talent development will inspire a new generation of athletes, ensuring long-term benefits that extend beyond 2030, a major focus of the President Bola Tinubu administration.
At the same time, the process of preparing for the Games will create opportunities for Nigerians to learn new crafts, acquire technical skills, and engage in global-standard event management, thereby strengthening human capacity and innovation across industries.
Mallam Shehu Dikko, Chairman of the Nigeria Sports Commission, and Hon. Bukola Olopade, the Director General, have been widely recognized for their tireless and visionary leadership in repositioning Nigeria’s sporting sector.
Their commitment to facilitating infrastructural development and strengthening grassroots sports development has laid the foundation for Nigeria’s bold bid to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games. Under their leadership, the NSC is fostering strategic partnerships and driving innovation in sports administration, they have demonstrated the nation’s readiness to stage an event of such global magnitude.
Beyond the tangible gains, the hosting of the 2030 Commonwealth Games carries profound symbolic value. It would be a moment of unity and pride, a chance for Nigeria to showcase its cultural richness, resilience, and excellence to the world.
As a centenary edition, the Games would stand as a historic milestone not just for the Commonwealth but for Nigeria itself, cementing its place on the global stage as a capable, ambitious, and forward-looking nation.
The gains from hosting the Commonwealth Games can never be undermined or overemphasized. This is Nigeria’s time to step forward and show the world our resilience, and excellence. We call on every Nigerian, across sectors and communities, to support this noble aspiration.
Nigeria’s pursuit of the 2030 Commonwealth Games is a vision for transformation, a blueprint for national development, and a legacy project that will inspire generations to come.
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