Sports

Badminton Confederation Africa launches “Path to Olympic Glory” in Nigeria

Published

11 months ago

November 22, 2024

Joel Ajayi

The Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) is looking forward to a podium finish at the next Olympic Games holding in Los Angeles in 2028 as its parent body, the Badminton Confederation Africa (BCA) launches a major initiative in the country.

Tagged “Road to LA 2028”, the athlete-focused program of the BCA is expected to ginger the Nigerian and other African badminton players to aim for higher achievement at the next Olympics.

The BFN, in conjunction with the BCA, believes that greater achievement is possible if preparation is done on time.

According to the BFN president, Francis Orbih who is also a member of the BCA Council, building an Olympic contender, let alone a champion, is not an overnight venture. “That explains our quest for early preparation, thanks to our continental parent body (BCA), for the initiative.”

This is aimed at propelling African and Nigerian badminton to new heights.

When Nigeria’s Eniola Bolaji won a medal at the Paris 2024, she became the first African to do so. “We want to build on the momentum and the fact that a badminton player, Anuoluwapo Opeyori was made the Captain of Team Nigeria has underlined the fact that badminton has come of age.

That was the first time in Nigeria’s 18-participation that a badminton player was chosen as team Nigeria captain.

The Road to LA 2028 is planned to inspire and support African badminton players as they strive for glory at the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The launch event is scheduled for December 1st, at the Kano Hall of the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.

“For Nigeria as hosts, we would also be celebrating the remarkable achievements of Nigerian badminton and para badminton players at the recent Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics”, remarked Orbih.

The “Road to LA 2028” initiative will focus on nurturing young talents, providing world-class training facilities, and securing essential resources to ensure African athletes are well-prepared to compete at the highest level.

“As a Nigerian, I am proud of our athletes’ achievements at the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, and I believe that the initiative of the BCA will motivate the athletes to better performance at the LA 2028, ” said Orbih.

Continuing, he said that “the ‘Road to LA 2028’ campaign is a BCA commitment to supporting African athletes and providing them with the tools they need to reach their full potential. We invite the entire nation to join us on this exciting journey.”

Expected at the event are critical stakeholders. Those invited include Governors, government agencies, corporate sponsors, the media and badminton stakeholders.

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Sports

FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification

Published

2 hours ago

October 5, 2025

The Gleamer

Legal Practitioner And Administrator Barr Bucknor Threatens To Petition FCT Minister Over Abandoned Stadiums

Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barrister Babatunde Burknor, a board member of the FCT Football Association (FA), remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can still secure qualification.

Nigeria currently sits third in their qualification group with 11 points from 8 matches, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa, who both lead with 14 points. Yet Burknor, a seasoned football administrator and grassroots sports advocate, believes all is not lost.

In a recent interview made available to BSN Sports, Burknor said: “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may appear almost impossible, but that doesn’t mean it is out of reach. The situation is tough, yes, but looking at the quality of players in our squad, I still believe we can make it.”

He added that unexpected results from other group rivals could work in Nigeria’s favour.

“Football is unpredictable. There is still a chance that South Africa, Benin Republic, or Rwanda could drop points. If we win our remaining two games, we still stand a chance. Sometimes football reflects life where the strong may fall while the seemingly weak stand tall.”

Calls for Grassroots Reform in the FCT

Beyond national team concerns, Burknor also used the opportunity to address the state of sports development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take concrete action to revamp local infrastructure.

“We have deep-rooted problems when it comes to grassroots sports. The major issue is a lack of funding and commitment from those charged with driving development at that level,” he said.

Burknor lamented the disappearance of once-thriving youth competitions like the Chairman’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, and Shell Cup, stating that such events played a crucial role in identifying and nurturing young talent.

“It’s disheartening that these programs are no longer active. Development is impossible without facilities, yet we lack even basic training grounds.”

The legal luminary revealed that he personally upgraded the sports facility at a government secondary school in his area to serve as a makeshift training centre, due to the absence of a functioning local stadium.

He is currently drafting a petition to Minister Wike, over abandoned stadiums in FCT, urging a comprehensive audit of officials responsible for sports development across the six Area Councils of the FCT.

Progress in Gwagwalada Football Development

As Vice Chairman of the Gwagwalada Football Council, Burknor highlighted the success of the Gwagwalada Football League, which has become a model for other Area Councils.

“In just two years, we’ve turned the Gwagwalada Football League into a success story. Several players from the league have already secured contracts in Europe. This shows what can be achieved with vision and consistency.”

Barrister Burknor, emphasized that grassroots football holds the key to Nigeria’s long-term football success and must be taken seriously.

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