Olaleye Idowu
Confluence Badminton Club has won the mixed doubles and men’s doubles in the second edition of the Kogi State Badminton Championship 2025.
The championship, which was played at the badminton court, NIWA Restaurant in Lokoja between 21st-22nd February 2025, featured mixed doubles, women’s doubles, men’s doubles 56+, men’s doubles 46-55, and men’s doubles 35-45.
Joseph and Martha of Confluence Badminton Club defeated Mohammed and Meme (KANTOMA Badminton Club), John Adabo and Machan Mercy (Friendship Badminton Club), and Emma and Comfort (Force Headquarters) to emerge victors in the mixed doubles.
In the women’s doubles, Endurance and Hamat from Team ZUMA Badminton Club of Suleja, Niger State, came first, defeating their opponents Grace and Queen (Confluence Badminton Club), Ketu and Mary (MMBC), and Janet and Jennifer (MBBC), who all emerged second, third, and fourth, respectively.
Hon. Ibrahim Audi and Shedrack of AKUM Badminton Club, Niger State, came first in the men’s doubles 56+, defeating their opponents Hon. Jibrin Jega (Zuma BC), Ali Hamza and Dr. Alhassan (Antau BC), and Azare and Compt. Yusuf (MPBC), who all emerged as second, third, and fourth, respectively.
For the men’s doubles 46-55, Musa and Peter from Confluence Badminton Club, Kogi State, emerged victors in this category. They knocked out Danasebe and Kolo of Niger Shuttle Strikers Badminton Club, Boss and Gabriel (MPBC), and Muritala and Umar (Team Kaduna).
Another great shocker in this year’s championship was in the men’s doubles 35-45, where Aminu and James (KANTOMA Badminton Club, Niger State) defeated Anache and Shehu (Niger Shuttle Strikers Badminton Club), Abubakar Sadiq and Fatai (Warriors Badminton Club), and Abdul and Taye (Niger Shuttle Strikers Badminton Club) to emerge champions of this category.
Speaking to journalists shortly after the competition, the Kogi State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Hon. Monday Anyebe, expressed satisfaction with the outcome of this year’s competition.
Anyebe thanked the organizers for the important tournament, adding that the second edition of the Confluence Badminton Championship is highly commendable.
“Confluence Badminton Club has given birth to a state where such tournaments are now constantly held. I must commend the organizers for it,” he stated.
He traced leadership problems as one of the reasons badminton is yet to get all the desired attention in Nigeria, pointing out that with the current people handling the association, there will be improvement.
The commissioner argued that Kogi State is working hard to ensure the state produces athletes that would represent Nigeria in international competitions.
The captain of Confluence Badminton Club, Kogi State, who doubles as the organizer of the tournament, Dr. Ashraff Abdulhakeem, also rated the outcome of this year’s competition highly.
His words: “The constant thing is change. For us, this is what we have always pushed for. Last year, we held this same competition, and this year, we are hosting it again. We thank God that it was a huge success, which is an improvement from what we had last year.
“As you can see, it was spicy and entertaining. We hope to improve as we go further. It is going to be a yearly event, and as we go further, we intend to improve on it. I am confident and happy that this was a success.”
Ashraff admonished the government and all stakeholders to invest massively in young players to replace the senior players.
“On our own, we intend to make Confluence Badminton Club favourable to athletes who want to come and play. We have been announcing that all players should come around to showcase their talents. Confluence Badminton Club, Kogi State, will keep bringing in younger players to replace the senior ones. Once in a while, we invite the senior ones from other states, including indigenes, to promote and encourage those that are coming up.”
He expressed satisfaction with the development of badminton in Nigeria.
Continuing, he said, “The Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN) is doing all it can to ensure that the game is promoted in the country. Recently, there was an international senior competition, and Nigeria emerged as the winner.
“Anu Opeyori won the male singles category. He has won this category five times consecutively. As far as I am concerned, the Badminton Federation of Nigeria is trying its best. I am appealing to the government at all levels and stakeholders to support the Badminton Federation of Nigeria to ensure multiple talents like Anu Opeyori are produced to represent Nigeria in international competitions.”
A total of 178 players participated in the 2025 Confluence Badminton Championship held in Lokoja, Kogi State.
