Nigeria’s badminton sensation Anuoluwapo Juwon Opeyori extended his reign as Africa’s undisputed king by securing his seventh continental singles title and a record fifth consecutive All-Africa Senior Badminton Championships gold at the 2025 edition held February 10–16 in Douala, Cameroon.
The 27-year-old top seed and defending champion navigated the tournament with clinical precision, culminating in a dominant 2-0 (21-7, 21-23) victory over Egypt’s Adham Hatem Elgamal in the men’s singles final on Sunday.
Opeyori’s Path to Glory
- Round of 32: Defeated Algeria’s M. Ouchefoun 2-0
- Round of 16: Beat Reunion’s T. Cougouille 2-0
- Quarterfinals: Overcame Mauritius’ J. Bongout 2-1
- Semifinals: Dispatched Morocco’s Bourroum P. Nolem in straight sets
- Final: Crushed Egypt’s Adham Hatem Elgamal 2-0 (21-7, 21-23)
This victory marks Opeyori’s fifth straight All-Africa Senior Championships title (2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025) and adds to his two All-Africa Games golds (2019, 2023/2024), cementing his legacy as one of the continent’s greatest-ever shuttlers.
Nigeria’s Medal Haul
Nigeria fielded a 10-player contingent and returned with one gold and two bronzes:
– Mixed Doubles bronze: Ukeh Deborah & Alhaji Aliyu Shehu (beat Egypt in playoff)
– Men’s Doubles bronze: Ikechukwu Victor & Emmanuel Joseph (beat Algeria)
Post-Match Reactions
Anuoluwapo Opeyori:
“This means everything to me. It was a tough tournament with a big target on my back as defending champion, but I stayed focused and executed my game plan. Winning my seventh African gold is special and I dedicate it to my coaches, teammates, the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, and all the supporters back home. I hope this inspires the next generation to dream big.”
BFN President Francis Orbih:
“Anuoluwapo continues to fly the Nigerian flag high. His consistency, work ethic and winning mentality are unmatched on the continent. This triumph is a proud moment for Nigerian badminton and we remain fully committed to supporting him and the entire team as we target bigger international stages.”
