Anuoluwapo Opeyori solidified his status as Africa’s top men’s badminton player on Sunday, claiming his fifth African title at the 2025 African Badminton Championships in Douala, Cameroon.
The Nigerian star defeated Egypt’s Adham Elgamal in a thrilling men’s singles final inside the Gymnase de Japoma, sealing a 2-0 victory. Opeyori dominated the first set 21-7 but had to dig deep in the second, edging a tight contest 23-22 to secure the crown.
The triumph marked his fourth consecutive championship win after victories in 2022, 2023, and 2024, adding to his first title in 2019.
Ranked second on the continent before the tournament, the 27-year-old advanced to the final by dispatching Morocco’s Driss Bourroum, while Elgamal stunned top seed Julien Paul from Mauritania.
Other Nigerian contenders fell short, with Victor Ikechukwu and Joseph Emmanuel exiting in the quarter-finals, while Dorcas Adesokan also bowed out in the last eight of the women’s singles.
Despite Opeyori’s individual brilliance, Nigeria’s hopes in the team event crumbled in the quarter-finals against Mauritius. The encounter, a rematch of their group-stage clash, ended in a 3-0 whitewash as Mauritius delivered a commanding performance.
In the opening match, Lucas Douce shocked Opeyori by taking the first set 21-12. Although the Nigerian fought back to claim the second set 21-19, Lucas sealed the win with a 21-15 victory in the decider after a grueling 57-minute battle.
The second match saw Elsa Hong face Sofiat Obanishola. Despite a strong start and a 21-16 first-set win, Sofiat’s campaign ended in heartbreak as an injury forced her to retire early in the second set.
Mauritius wrapped up the tie in the men’s doubles, where Jean Bongout and Julien Paul outclassed Emmanuel and Ikechukwu. Their aggressive approach and seamless teamwork led to a 21-16, 21-13 straight-sets win in just 31 minutes.
The last time Nigeria claimed the team event title was in 2019 when the country hosted the championship.
Opeyori’s latest triumph, however, remains a beacon of hope for Nigerian badminton as he continues to dominate the African scene.
Reported by Punch.
