Anuoluwapo Opeyori is one of the 173 badminton players who have qualified for a spot at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. His qualification means that he is the first Nigerian player to qualify for two Olympic Games. He featured at the delayed Tokyo 2020 and will thus made a back-to-back appearance.

The list of qualifiers has been released by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). This includes 166 regular quota places (83 men and 83 women), three universality places from the IOC Tripartite Commission (two men and one woman), plus an additional place for IOC Refugee Olympic Team athlete Dorsa Yavarivata,  whose participation was confirmed earlier this month in a special announcement by the IOC

Opeyori dominated Africa in the men’s singles from 2019 till date winning four African Championship titles and two African Games titles.

An elated Francis Orbih, President of Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN)  remarked on Saturday that Anuoluwapo Opeyori has broken the jinx in Nigeria badminton by making it to the Olympic Games in Paris.

Orbih said Opeyori’s qualification shows that the current leadership of BFN’s target of producing world class players is beginning to manifest.

He revealed that BFN will leave no stone unturned in supporting the dreams and aspirations of the young players in making podium finishes.

Orbih said, “History has been made in badminton as Anuoluwapo Opeyori has secured a spot at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games with the release made by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

“I am excited and full of joy because Anuoluwapo Opeyori is the first Nigerian badminton player to feature in the men’s singles at the Olympic Games and also the first Nigerian to attend two Olympics and back to back.

“Three years ago, it was Dorcas Adesokan in the women’s singles and Opeyori with his partner Godwin Olofua in the men’s doubles that made it to the Olympic Games in Tokyo. Today, Anuoluwapo Opeyori will represent Nigeria in the men’s singles; the leadership of BFN and Nigeria are proud of him”.

Orbih charged Anuoluwapo Opeyori not to relent but continue to train and attain top form ahead of the Olympic Games.

He said, “I want to urge Anuoluwapo Opeyori to continue training hard for the Games; we are going to ensure he attends training tours before the Olympic Games”

Guinea booked their place at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament in Paris after Ilaix Moriba’s penalty sealed a 1-0 play-off victory over Indonesia on Thursday.

With the qualification via play-off, Africa will have four teams at the men’s football event of the Olympic Games.

Guinea now joins Morocco, Egypt and Mali.

The Guinean midfielder’s first-half strike from 12 yards proved the difference at Clairefontaine as the Syli Nationale secured qualification for just their second Olympic Games.

With the 16-team line-up for this summer’s event now complete, Guinea have been drawn in a daunting Group A alongside hosts France, USA and New Zealand.

The decisive moment came on the half-hour mark when Algassime Bah was brought down in the box by Indonesia’s Witan Sulaeman after a rapid Guinea counter-attack.

Moriba made no mistake from the resulting spot-kick, lashing the ball beyond the reach of the Indonesian goalkeeper to put the African side ahead.

Guinea had opportunities to extend their lead, with Mohamed Soumah’s close-range effort hacked off the line shortly after the restart.

But Indonesia rallied and went agonisingly close to an equaliser on the hour, substitute Alfeandra Dewangga’s glancing header drifting just wide.

Dewangga was soon at the centre of the action again, conceding a penalty after fouling Bah in the box – an award that prompted angry protests from the Indonesian bench and saw coach Shin Tae-yong dismissed.

After a lengthy delay, Bah took responsibility from 12 yards himself but could only strike the upright as Guinea missed the chance to put the result beyond doubt.

Indonesia pushed for a late leveller but Guinea’s defence stood firm to seal their historic place at Paris 2024 – 56 years after their Olympic debut in 1968.

The hard work starts now for the West Africans as they prepare to take on the might of France, USA and New Zealand in a daunting group stage

Fatimo Bello shot herself to the international limelight in 2022 when she defied all odds to reach the final of the African Cup, where she eventually lost to Egypt’s Hana Goda.

This performance contributed immensely to her world ranking fortunes; she became the third best player in Africa and the highest-ranked Nigerian female player in the world.

But after the 2022 feat, Bello moved to Italy to continue her professional career, while her inability to repeat her 2022 feet in 2023 affected her ranking, and she dropped down the pecking order in Africa.

However, she has been listed as one of Nigeria’s flagbearers at the African Olympic Qualification Tournament in Kigali, Rwanda, and the Lagos State-born athlete believes this is her time to join the league of elite players heading to Paris in July.

“It has not been easy since 2022, but I am still a work in progress with the hope that I will get back to my form. My African Games experience was not impressive at all, and I have that behind me with the hope that I can re-enact my form in Kigali,” she said.

The three-time Nigerian national champion, however, admitted that she expects tough challenges from other players but that she is poised to fight for one of the three tickets at stake. “It is not going to be an easy ride in Kigali because everybody is targeting a place at the Olympic Games, and I will be glad to become one of the new generation of players to compete at the Olympic Games,” she added.

Bello will be joined by Offiong Edem in the women’s category of the Olympic Qualifiers on May 16 to 18, while Quadri Aruna and Olajide Omotayo will compete in the men’s category, as the three top players will secure automatic tickets to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in France.