By Paul Joseph
The Nigerian Badminton team is on the verge of preparations for the upcoming major African Badminton tournament in Botswana which will kick-off from 9-15 February 2026.
The Training camp is currently taking effect at the Moshud Abiola National Stadium in Abuja, where players and coaches were seen in high spirits preparing for the prestigious African championship.
The team has been in camp for approximately three weeks, engaging in intensive training.
The tournament will see participation from 21 countries at the Royal Aria Indoor Arena in Tlokweng to set a global stage for the ‘Thomas and Uber Cup in Denmark.’
This event marks a significant milestone for Botswana, as it will host the All Africa Senior Badminton Championships for the first time in its 34-year history.
While there are no monetary rewards available, advancing to the two premier World Badminton Federation (WBF) events serves as a valuable incentive, allowing players to compete against some of the best in the world.
In an interview with Starnews on Saturday, Eneojo Abah, the assistant coach of the Badminton Federation of Nigeria’s senior team, emphasized that the team is fully prepared for the championship and that players have received all the necessary training to achieve success.
He urged all Nigerians to come together to support the national team, particularly in terms of funding, which he believes would be greatly beneficial.
Players Aderinola Samuel and Zainab Alabi shared their experiences from training, expressing optimism about their chances of winning the championship finals based on the coaching they have received.
Although Algeria is the defending champion in Africa, the players are confident that their training will enable them to overcome Algeria in the competition.
The Nigerian Badminton team has been revamped to improve its strength, blending younger players with experienced veterans as part of a new strategy to boost Nigeria’s visibility in the international badminton arena.
While the team is concluding its training camp, the exact date for their departure to Botswana has not yet been determined.
Leave a Reply