Nigeria’s Team Captain and badminton star, Anuoluwapo Opeyori, has expressed his deep gratitude to fans for their support during his Paris Olympics campaign, despite his early exit.
Opeyori, who is ranked 10th in men’s singles, thanked his supporters and highlighted his dedication to representing African talent in badminton. Despite facing tough competition, he remained determined and focused.
In a video posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Opeyori said, “Thank you all for your support. We’ve shown what Africa can offer in badminton. It might not be the result we wanted, but it was a win for Africa. I will keep working hard to become the best player in Africa and in the world. On to the next one.”
Opeyori fought valiantly in his second Group N match against China’s Li Shi Feng, the world number six, but lost 2-0 (21-17, 21-17). This followed his earlier loss to Switzerland’s Tobias Kuenzi, which ended his Olympic journey.
In his first match, Opeyori faced Kuenzi, who had previously lost to Li Shi Feng. Kuenzi won the closely contested first set 22-20 and secured the second set 21-14 for a 2-0 victory.
Reflecting on his experience, Opeyori emphasized the significance of representing Nigeria and Africa on the global stage and pledged to continue his hard work and dedication to achieve greater success in future competitions.
