Nigeria’s badminton star Anuoluwapo Juwon Opeyori has secured his seventh African title after a 2-0 (21-7, 23-21) victory over Egypt’s Adham Hatem Elgamal in the men’s singles final of the All-Africa Senior Badminton Championship in Douala, Cameroon, on Sunday.
Opeyori came into the tournament as the defending champion and reaffirmed his dominance with a flawless run to the title. He began his campaign with a commanding 2-0 victory over Algeria’s M. Ouchefoun in the Round of 32, followed by another straight-set win against Reunion’s T. Cougouille in the Round of 16. In the quarterfinals, he overcame a tough challenge from Mauritius’ J. Bongout, securing a 2-1 victory. The semifinal saw him dispatch Morocco’s Bourroum P. Nolem in straight sets before clinching the title with his final win against Elgamal.
His final match saw the Nigerian star showcase his experience, composure, and technical brilliance. He stormed through the first set 21-7 before holding off a spirited fightback from the Egyptian in the second, eventually sealing the gold medal with a 23-21 win.
The victory cements Opeyori’s status as Africa’s best, making him a five-time consecutive champion of the All-Africa Senior Badminton Championships (2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025). He has also won two All-Africa Games gold medals (2019 and 2023/2024), bringing his total continental singles titles to seven.
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Reacting to his victory, an elated Opeyori credited his success to hard work and perseverance.
“This victory means a lot to me. It has been a tough tournament, but I stayed focused and gave my best in every match. Coming in as the defending champion, I knew I had a target on my back, but I was determined to retain my title,” he said.
“Winning my seventh African gold is a huge achievement, and I’m grateful to my coaches, teammates, the Nigerian Badminton Federation, and the National Sports Commission for their support. I hope this inspires younger players to keep pushing for excellence,” he added.
President of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih, praised Opeyori’s performance, extolling the two-time Olympian’s consistency and contribution to Nigerian badminton.
“Anuoluwapo Opeyori has once again proven why he is Africa’s best. His dedication, discipline, and winning mentality continue to raise the profile of Nigerian badminton. This victory is not just for him but for the entire country. We are proud of his achievements and remain committed to supporting him and other players as we prepare for more international competitions,” he said.
He further added: “I also want to appreciate the entire Team Nigeria contingent for their strong display throughout the tournament. The effort and resilience of our coaches and players in all categories were commendable, and we remain confident in their ability to achieve even greater success on the global stage.”
The six-day championship, which ran from February 10-16, saw Nigeria field 10 athletes—five men and five women—who competed across five categories. Team Nigeria finished the tournament with three medals—one gold and two bronze—as the mixed doubles pair of Ukeh Deborah and Alhaji Aliyu Shehu secured bronze against Egypt, while the men’s doubles duo of Ikechukwu Victor and Emmanuel Joseph won bronze against Algeria.
