By; JOSEPH ODOEKWU, Accra
Team Nigeria’s hope of breaking the gold drought at the ongoing 13th African Games going in Accra may soon see the light of day as badminton seems to become the first discipline to deliver that.
The badminton event has reached the medal stage as the semi-final and final stages take place today at Boartayem.
In the Men’s Single, tagged the ‘Blue Ribbon’ event, Nigeria’s chances of winning gold seems near if Anuoluwapo Opeyori who is Africa’s number 1 beat Egyptian opponent, Adham Hatem in a semi-final clash.
A win for Opeyori means an all-Nigeria final as he will lock horns with his fellow compatriot as the second semi-final game is an all-Nigerian affair.
In another light, Nigeria’s Dorcas Adesokan faces Uganda’s Husina Kabugabe in the women’s singles semi-final and a win for the Nigerian medal specialist means badminton will become a major source of gold medal for the team.
Another likely source of medal for Nigeria today is the partnership of Godwin Olofua and Anuoluwapo Opeyori in the Men’s double as they confront Jarred Elliot and Robert Summer.
Again, Dorcas Adesokan and Sofiat Obanishola will slug it out with Algeria’s duo of Hella Bouksani/Tanina Mammeri in the women’s double event and that keeps hope alive for team Nigeria through badminton.
