Badminton: Nigeria Shines at Badminton Championship in Cairo; with Anuoluwapo retaining his African title for the third time in a row
Nigeria’s team at the just concluded All Africa Senior Badminton Championship, Cairo 2024, did made the nation proud as they won seven medals with the country’s number one badminton player, Anuoluwapo Opeyori soaring to his fifth African title for the third time in a row.
Anuoluwapo had earlier won the All Africa Senior Championships Men’s Singles title in Port Harcourt, Nigeria in 2019, the All Africa Games MS title in Morocco in 2019, the All Africa Senior Championships MS title in Uganda 2022, the All Africa Senior Championships in South Africa 2023 and now in Egypt 2024.
On the other hand, Nigeria’s male team narrowly lost to Algeria in the Finals despite securing the first two of five games. The team eventually settled For Silver.
Meanwhile, the Women’s team picked a valuable bronze medal, following their loss in the Semifinals to the Ugandan Women’s team.
In the Individual Category, Nigeria’s Star Player, Anuoluwapo Opeyori sailed seamlessly to the finals by beating Mauritian Georges Julien Paul.
And again he asserted his dominance by beating Paul 23-21, 11-21, 21-16 to emerge as the champion for the third time in a row and his fifth African title all together.
The relatively new pair of Yunusa Momoh Godwin Olofua did the country proud by beating Mauritius players, Melvin Appiah and Tejraj Pultoo 21-17, 21-15 to reach the Finals. They were, however, unable to subdue the duo of Africa’s number one pair of Algeria’s Kociela Mammeri and Sabri Medel, thereby losing 12-21, 8-21 to clinch the Silver in the Men’s Doubles event.
In the Women’s Doubles, Nigeria’s Dorcas Ajoke Adesokan paired with a new partner, Sofiyat Obanishola lose out narrowly to Ugandan’s Husina Kobugabe and Gladys Mbabazi 21-18, 19-21, 18-21. The pair did showed great fighting spirit in the Semifinals, but alas, they could only lay hold on the bronze medal.
In the Mixed Doubles event, yet another fresh pair of Aliyu Alhaji Shehu and Deborah Ukeh-Divine lost the Semifinal match to home team of Adham Hatem Gamel and Doha Hany of Egypt 9-21, 12-21 (0-2) to take the bronze medal for their efforts.
As the tournament came to a close, it was an overall fine showing for Nigeria, and the nation was able to take home an impressive total of 7 medals, comprising of 1 gold, 2 silver and 4 bronze medals.
While reacting to the great feat achieved by the Nigerian players, President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbih, expressed his gratitude for the performance of the Team and was deeply pained for the loss of the Men’s Team in the final.
“We were so close after getting the first 2 games in our favour, but we understand that in games as in life, anything can happen. We are grateful to and appreciative of our players and their performances”, Francis said
He likewise showed his appreciation to the Hon. Minister for Sport Development, Hon John Enoh for the Ministry’s support for the team.
He promised that the board would continue to support players in all categories and at all levels.
Francis further expressed the plans of the board to ensure resumption of players to camp so as to begin preparations for the upcoming badminton event at All Africa Games coming up in Ghana between 3rd and 10th of March 2024.
(Credit Sportvillagesquare)
