Sports
Against all odds, Nigeria’s Anu Opeyori retains Africa’s badminton crown
Nigeria’s number 1 badminton player, Anuoluwa Opeyori has won his third African title in a space of five years to assert himself as Africa’s undisputable champion.
His latest victory came in South Africa at the weekend as he beat Mauritius Julien Paul 18-21, 21-13, 21-18 to win the gold medal of the Men’s singles of the All Africa Senior Championships.
It was not an easy feat as the Nigerian delegation was psychologically drained even before the championship owing to non-issuance of travel visa to four of the ten-man team.
With his latest win, Opeyori has added to earlier titles won in Port Harcourt, Nigeria in 2019 and Kampala, Uganda in 2022.
He had also won the Men’s Singles title at the African Games in Morocco in 2019 to make it four titles in five years!
His spirit was initially dampened following the inability of four of his teammates to obtain entry visa into South Africa for the competition.
The affected players were: Aliyu Alhaji Shehu, Dorcas Ajoke Adesokan, Sofiyat Arinola Obanishola and Ramatu Yakubu.
That reduced the Nigerian field and narrowed the possibility of the country making a good impact.
It is worthy of note that this is the second time in recent years that a Nigerian contingent to the All Africa Senior Championships will have serious and demoralizing problems regarding their visas. The first was when the Team was traveling to Egypt for the All Africa Senior championships in 2020.
Anuoluwapo Opeyori in the 2022 edition arrived Uganda as the sole participant from Nigeria and went all the way up to clinch the Men’s Singles gold medal, thereby becoming King of African badminton for the second time after his feat in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
His drive, youth, strength, determination and skill saw him stepping unto the courts with a strong message when he easily routed Mauritius player, Julien Paul in two straight sets during the Mixed Team event part of the 2023 edition of the championships before confirming his intention to leave no prisoners.
He muscled his way into the Individual Championship segment of the edition.
He was loud and clear as the competiion served off. His intention was clear – to clear off all disenting oppositions on his way to the throne.
His form was devastating to all that came his way. He easily dispatched his opponents with ruthless efficiency. They fell like packs of cards blown by the huricane.
Opeyori began the individual event easily outstroking Trinity Chimpumho of Zimbabwe 21-8, 21-9. Next to succumb to his firepower was homeboy, Ruan Snyman who also fell in two straight sets of 21-11 and 21-16 at the Round of 16.
Only Zambia’s Kalombo Mulenga showed a little resistance. But ‘Huricane Opeyori’ blew him away after the Zambian narrowly took the first set at 19-21.
Opeyori with fury of thunder smashed out the Zambian 21-10 in the next set and 21-19 in the third set of the quarter-final duel to win the match.
With the games getting tougher as the championship tie beckoned, Opeyori won the semi-finals against another homeboy, Robert Summers, 21-19 and 21-15 before his title match with the Mauritian.
It’s a new begining, remarked the Badminton Federation of Nigeria president, Francis Orbih who admitted that the sport in Nigeria suffered a setback following an initial internal wrangling that was only resolved last year.
“We are back to reassert our commanding stature in Africa”, he concluded.
Sports
TopTier Sports Management Takes Africa to Lagos as Nigeria Legends Secure 2-1 Victory
Joel Ajayi
Nigeria’s football legends defeated Team Africa 2-1 in a thrilling Legends Football Game at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos, bringing CANEX WKND 2026 to a rousing close.
The night was more than a match. It was a homecoming for the men who made Nigeria the kings of African football.
Speaking after the final whistle, the Chief Executive Officer of TopTier Sports Management, Chichi Nwoko who brought the legends to Lagos could not hide her joy.
“I am fulfilled and glad that we had an opportunity to bring Africa to Lagos,” she said.
Nwoko revealed the game started with a simple conversation.
“Honestly, it was a conversation with the Vice President of Afreximbank that we needed to do something football,” she said.
“I am a lover of sports, the VP of Afreximbank is a fan of football and the chairman of Bet9ja, Mr Kunle Soname is the biggest supporter of football in Nigeria.”
That conversation became a celebration of history – 30 years after Nigeria won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia and the historic 1996 Olympic gold medal in Atlanta, beating Brazil and Argentina.
“It was perfect timing, a perfect storm to really celebrate and remember the legacy of Nigeria as the kings of football 30 years after 1996,” Nwoko said.
On the pitch, the stars rolled back the years. Nigeria paraded Jay-Jay Okocha, Samson Siasia, Daniel Amokachi, Finidi George, Mutiu Adepoju, Garba Lawal, Victor Ikpeba and Austin Eguavoen.
Team Africa, led by former Ghanaian international, Samuel Kuffour,Alex Song of Cameroon, Ivorian Salomon Kalou, and Didier Zokora, Senegal’s El-Hadji Diouf, former Ghana captain Stephen Appiah, fought hard – but the home legends had the final say, 2-1 with NSC chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko scoring one of the goals.
Nwoko thanked everyone who made the night possible: “I want to thank the legends for coming out, we thank the Nigerian government, the National Sports Commission, the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, thank you to Bet9ja. CANEX WKND has been wonderful,” she said.
Organised by TopTier Sports Management in collaboration with Bet9ja, the Legends Football Game was designed to honour the players who shaped Nigeria’s and Africa’s standing in world football, while drawing attention to better welfare and opportunities for athletes beyond their playing careers.
As the crowd roared in Onikan, one thing was clear: legends never retire, they just remind you why they became legends
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