Tandoh Hails Omotayo, Anuoluwapo’s Exploits At All Africa Games

Badminton player, Anuoluwapo Opeyori overcame Algeria’s Youcef Medel Sabri with a 2-0 to win in the Men’s Singles of the Badminton event. The first match was hard-fought, but Anuoluwapo Opeyori won 23-21 before taking the second game with relative ease, winning 21-11.

Unfavoured Nigeria’s Olajide Omotayo conquered three of the best players in Africa in the table tennis event to be crowed the champion to come out of the continent.

From the quarterfinal stage, Omotayo worked his way to the final beating two former champions – Egypt’s Ahmed Saleh and Nigeria’s Segun Toriola in the quarterfinal and semifinal stages.

The final produced the best of Africa with Aruna Quadri going up against Omotayo and the fans were treated to an exciting match.

Omotayo threw caution to the wind and raced to the lead with a 3-0 (13-11, 11-9, 16-14) but experienced Quadri cut the lead to 3-2 with 8-11, 13-15 wins in the fourth and fifth games.

The sixth match was a display of energy and skills and it was the younger Omotayo that scaled through with 12-10 win to claim the second gold medals for Nigeria in the table tennis event of the multi-sports fiesta.

Anuoluwapo Opeyori on the podium after winning gold medal in Badminton

Tandoh, who is in Rabat to watch proceedings of the All Africa Games, thumbed up both Anuoluwapo and Omotayo for their ‘golden’ performance. He said they are not only good ambassadors of Nigeria, but they also made Lagos state proud.

“Jide Omotayo, a player groomed and developed through the Lagos State sports system, has shown that with determination, commitment and discipline, you can get to the top. We are proud of him and wish him the very best,” Tandoh  P.M. EXPRESS in a conversation early on Friday from Rabat.

“Anu has continued to blossom in his badminton career. A product of Lagos State and one of the success stories of the annual Lagos International Badminton Classics, Anu’s focus, humility and discipline has seen him rise to the top of African Badminton. For him, I am sure that this is just a stepping stone to greater success in his career.,”  Tandoh said.