African champion Opeyori sets sights on more titles News

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African champion Opeyori sets sights on more titles

By Daily Sports Nigeria on February 18, 2025

Nigeria badminton player and two-time Olympian, Anuoluwapo Opeyori, has set his sight on winning more titles this year after claiming his fourth successive men’s singles title and fifth overall at the 2025 All-Africa Senior Badminton Championships in Cameroon on Sunday, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Opeyori held off 2021 champion and Egypt’s Adham Elgamal in Sunday’s final in two sets (21-7, 23-21).

The Nigerian second seed has been unbeaten in the event since 2022 and hopes to continue his dominance beyond the tournament.

“I feel so happy that Nigeria is getting this medal because it’s very important for us. I am also very happy that I am able to put in a very good record in Africa,” Opeyori said after the final.

“It’s been a very long week; right now I will just have to refresh myself for subsequent competitions in the year.”

Although Nigeria didn’t reach the final of the team event, the team still won bronze in the mixed doubles and men’s double to cap off their run at the tournament.

The women’s singles title went to Egypt’s Nour Ahmed Youssri, who reclaimed her 2022 gold with a 21-7 21-14 result over compatriot Doha Hany.

Egypt had another shot at gold in the last match, but Elgamal and Hany could not take the court for the mixed doubles final against Algeria’s Koceila Mammeri/Tanina Violette Mammeri. It was the second title for Koceila, as he and Youcef Sabri Medel were dominant in the men’s doubles final over Mauritius’ Jean Bernard Bongout/Georges Julien Paul, 21-19 21-9.

Koceila Mammeri now has 14 titles overall from the continental championship, including six men’s doubles gold medals with Medel and five consecutive mixed doubles titles with Tanina Violette, besides two (mixed doubles) with Linda Mazri.

The women’s doubles gold went to South Africa’s Amy Ackerman/Johanita Scholtz, who prevailed over Algeria’s Yasmina Chibah/Linda Mazri 24-22 21-10.

Source Punch Ng

Posted February 18, 2025