Anuoluwapo Opeyori has emerged winner of the African men’s singles title for a third time in a row at 2024 All Africa Senior Badminton Championship in Cairo, Egypt.
He was previously the African champion in 2022 and 2023, before he made it three consecutive wins in Egypt on February 18, 2024. He had also won the AASC men’s singles title in 2019 in Port Harcourt and at the African Games in Morocco in 2019.
Anuoluwapo Opeyori qualified for the final, defeating compatriot Victor Ikechukwu 21-13, 19-21, 21-9 to renew an old rivalry with Mauritian’s Julien Paul and again asserted his dominance winning 2-1 (23-21, 11-21, 21-16) to clinch the African men’s singles title for a fifth time in history.
According to Opeyori, his triumph will boost his chances of qualifying for the forthcoming Olympics scheduled from July 26 to August 11 in Paris, France.
Reacting to the win, the 26-year-old told PUNCH Sports Extra:
“I’m elated and overwhelmed with joy, this is a career milestone. Winning it three times in a row will boost my chances of qualifying for the Olympics.”
In the men’s doubles event, the Yunusa Momoh and Godwin Olofua won silver after losing 2-0 (12-21, 8-21) in two sets to Algeria’s Kociela Mammeri and Sabri Medel.
Nigerian duo Dorcas Adesokan and Sofiyat Obanishola also clinched bronze in the women’s doubles after losing 2-1 (21-18, 19-21, 18-21) in the semi-finals to Ugandans Husina Kobugabe and Gladys Mbabazi.
In the mixed doubles event, the pair of Aliyu Shehu and Deborah Ukeh-Divine also won bronze after losing in two straight sets 9-21, 12-21 to Adham Gamel and Doha Hany of Egypt.
Nigeria won seven medals: one gold, two silvers and four bronze.
President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Francis Orbih, said:
“We were so close after getting the first two 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.”
