Despite the crisis rocking the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, Anuoluwapo Juwon Opeyori, against all odds, has won gold in the All-Africa Individual Badminton Championships in Kampala, Uganda.
It was gathered that Opeyori was the only Nigerian after his teammates, Godwin Olofua and Dorcas Adesokan were unable to make it due to personal engagements.
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It was learnt that he had to attend alone without any coach or support staff and was able to win Nigeria’s first major win since the leadership crisis in the administration of badminton ensued late last year.
It will be noted that there is no executive board of the Badminton federation in the country at the moment and the leadership of a caretaker committee had to get Opeyori a flight ticket to attend the championship.
Opeyori avenged his loss in 2020 final with a thrilling 21-14, 23-21 win over Brian Kasirye of Uganda.
It was his second individual gold medal at the event after taking the 2019 title following a win against countryman Godwin Olofua in that final.
Opeyori had beaten 2017 champion Adel Hamek of Algeria in convincing fashion with a 21-18, 21-18 semi-final triumph in the men’s singles.
On his path to the semifinal, he beat homeboy, Israel Wanagalya of Uganda 18-21, 21-10 and 21-11 to get a 2-1 win having come back from a set down.
