According to the Badminton World Federation (BWF, multiple African Men’s Singles Badminton Champion, Anuoluwapo Opeyori has qualified for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Opeyori who is a two time African Games Champion made history by becoming the first Nigerian badminton player to make it to the Olympics back to back (2020 and 2024).

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) told newsmen 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 Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) 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”.

The third edition of Asisat Oshoala Foundation School Project for Girl-child in Nigeria in conjunction with the First Lady, Mrs Oluremi Tinubu’s New Era Foundation was held on Friday at Oko Baba Youth Centre, Ebute Metta, Lagos.

It was thrills and frills as the participants from no fewer than six schools in and around Ebute Metta were taking up on some rudiments and basics of the round leather game by the facilitators of the event proudly supported by American sportswear company, Nike, Germany’s Women Win and Emzor Pharmaceuticals

The school project, aims at empowering the next generation of girl-child, is a pet project of African Woman Footballer of the Year award winner, Asisat Oshoala supported by the Nigerian First Lady. At Asisat Oshoala Foundation and New Era Foundation where all-round education and sports remain priority.

Former Commissioner for Youth and Sports in Lagos State, Agboola Dabiri, who was a guest at the event on Friday applauded the initiative. He said that Oshoala, former captain of the Super Falcons, has done so much to impact Nigerian girls to find their rhythm being perfected in both football and education.

Some of the girls who participated at the third edition of the school project described event as a veritable platform to discover their gift of playing football and their experience remains memorable.

Ojediran Fathia thanked the First Lady, Mrs Tinubu and Oshoala for the opportunity given to her and her colleagues to be part of the school project.

“It’s amazing getting myself playing football here and mixing with other girls. I must confess, I am so excited,” Ojediran said.

To Stephanie Happiness, it was a lifetime opportunity to be part of the exciting event anchored by Asisat Oshoala who she looks up to as a role model and a big sister.

The train of Asisat Oshoala Foundation School Project has been moving round the local governments and communities in Lagos State which include Agege, Ajegunle, Isolo, Ikorodu, Mushin, Ajah, Surulere and Yaba. It is expected to go round other 30 local government areas in subsequent editions.

All roads lead to the Sports Centre of the University of Lagos in Akoka, Yaba, Lagos as the final ceremony of the 5th edition of JOF U-13 Cup Football Championship holds on Sunday.

The journey of the 5th edition, which started on Sunday 11 February, 2024 with a kicked off at Union Bank playground in Surulere with 64 team, as against 32 in the 2023 edition, will be climaxed on 12 May at UNILAG Sports Centre with the final clash between Zamadek Football Academy and HB Utility Football Academy

In its bid to further incentivising participation and encourage the dedication by the players, as well as rewarding talent, the sponsor of JOF U-13 football competition, JOF Nigeria Limited, has jacked up the prize monies to be given to the winners and the three other runners up teams of the fifth edition.

Last year, a packaged prize money of N1,500,000 was doled out, but this year, the sponsor at a media briefing on Thursday in Lagos announced a total prize of N1, 850,000 which will be given out during the closing ceremony scheduled for University of Lagos Sports Centre in Akoka, Yaba, Lagos on Sunday 12 May 2024.

The winners will go home with the sum of N750,000, first runners get N500,000, second and third runners up will pocket N350,000 and N250, 000 respectively.

Individual prizes of N25,000 each will also be given to the Highest Goalscorer, Most Valuable Player and Best Goalkeeper.

Director of Strategic Support Services, JOF Nigeria Limited, Adeyinka Adetunji said that, though the players are still very young to be spoilt with monetary rewards, the need to encourage and motivate them, and to send a strong message that their God-given talent can bring fortune to them if they are serious with what are doing, prompted the increased monetary packages for the players.

He recalled how the sponsor company took JOF All Stars team of 30 players on playing tour of Lagos, Oyo and Ogun State last year’s November and the enthusiasm that followed after the exercise.

“The JOF U-13 Football Tournament has emerged as a catalyst for social cohesion and community engagement for our youths. Through the power of Sports, we have witnessed first-hand JOF All Stars who played PSI of Ibadan and Remo Stars of Ikenne, Ogun State with the sole and of further exposing the boys to top players from the tournament.

“We put them in a week-long camp where we encouraged them to bond together under one roof and exposed them to leadership training program.

“We will still have another set of All Stars team this year after the final. The plan is to expose these youngsters to life outside football.

“The camping and the tour were good exposure for the players. This is a testimony to the fact that we are taken the annual JOF U-13 Football Tournament beyond football with a focus to development these players,” Olatunji said.

Olatunji commended the support the tournament has been receiving from the sporting media since the first edition in 2020. This, he said, is unprecedented; and like Oliver Twist; he asked for more.

He also appreciated the support from some brands which believe in the vision of the tournament.

“This year as usual, we are expecting some brands presence from Milo, Maltina, Indomie, JOF salt, Custodian Insurance, First Bank and others during the final ceremony,” he said.

Secretary of Lagos State Grassroots Soccer Association, Abubakre Ishola said the organization is out to provide a platform for the kids to develop their talent, build character and instil passion for the game in them.

“We would like to express our profound gratitude to our sponsor, JOF Nigeria Limited for their unwavering support and commitment to youth soccer development in Lagos State for the past four years.

“Without the dedication of Dr Olusegun Olugboyegun to our course, event like this would not have been possible. Sir, we are truly grateful for your magnanimous support,” he said.