Badminton · Players · No. 1
Anuoluwapo Juwon Opeyori
Five-time African champion and the first Nigerian to play Olympic badminton at two Games in a row.
- 5African singles titles
- 2Olympic Games
- 2African Games golds
- 86Career-high world ranking
Advertisement
Lagos-born champion
Anuoluwapo Juwon Opeyori was born in Lagos on 1 June 1997 and has become the most successful Nigerian badminton player of his generation. Between 2019 and 2025 he won five African men’s singles titles in a row, a run that ended in Gaborone in February 2026, when Egypt’s Adham Elgamal took the title.
He also won singles gold at the African Games in 2019 and 2023, and helped Nigeria to the mixed team gold in 2019.
Two-time Olympian
At the Tokyo 2020 Olympics he played men’s doubles with Godwin Olofua. Three years later he qualified for Paris 2024 in men’s singles, becoming the first Nigerian to play badminton at two Olympic Games in a row, and carried Nigeria’s flag at the opening ceremony alongside Tobi Amusan.
Selected results
| Year | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | African Championships, Douala | Gold, men’s singles (fifth straight title) |
| 2024 | Paris Olympics | Group stage, men’s singles; Nigeria’s flag bearer |
| 2024 | African Championships, Cairo | Gold, men’s singles |
| 2023 | African Games, Accra | Gold, men’s singles; silver, men’s doubles |
| 2023 | African Championships | Gold, men’s singles |
| 2022 | African Championships | Gold, men’s singles |
| 2021 | Tokyo Olympics | Group stage, men’s doubles with Godwin Olofua |
| 2019 | African Games, Rabat | Gold, men’s singles and mixed team |
| 2019 | African Championships, Port Harcourt | Gold, men’s singles (first title) |
World ranking
His career-high world rankings are 86th in men’s singles (September 2023) and 48th in men’s doubles with Olofua (October 2021).
Advertisement
More Nigerian badminton
Badminton in Nigeria
One of Nigeria’s fastest growing sports: the federation, the players and the numbers.Read more
History of badminton in Nigeria
From Badminton House to African titles, with a verified timeline.Read more
Nigeria’s national badminton team
African titles, Olympic appearances and Paralympic medals.Read more
Badminton competitions
The Lagos International Classics, African Championships and the 2026 calendar.Read more
Quick answers
Anuoluwapo Juwon Opeyori: facts and results
Who is Anuoluwapo Juwon Opeyori?
A Nigerian badminton player born in Lagos on 1 June 1997. He won five straight African men’s singles titles (2019 to 2025) and played at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics.
How many African titles has Opeyori won?
Five men’s singles titles at the African Championships (2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025), plus African Games singles gold in 2019 and 2023.
Was Opeyori Nigeria’s flag bearer at Paris 2024?
Yes. He carried the flag with hurdler Tobi Amusan at the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics.