International Badminton: Sport gains popularity in football-crazy Nigeria

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02:48

Nigeria is known as a football-crazy country which is very proud of their national team the Super Eagles. But now badminton is gradually gaining popularity and former national badminton player Ibrahim Adamu is hoping to improve the country's global rankings by getting more youngsters into the sport. CGTN's Phil Ihaza reports.

These young players are being taught the basics of Badminton by a former Nigerian star, Ibrahim Adamu. Adamu retired in 2011, but not before winning several medals for Nigeria including gold at the 2003 All Africa Games. He says his dream now is to raise world champions through his academy A&O.

IBRAHIM ADAMU A&O BADMINTON ACADEMY COACH "So far, having to build an academy like this, I really want to improve the game of badminton in Nigeria. We have been ruling the game of badminton in Africa, but my main aim is to see us go past Africa and try and see if we can conquer the world."

That may look like a tall order as Nigeria is ranked 195 globally in the men's category and 130 in the women's. However, recent efforts from the government and professionals like Coach Adamu, mean Nigeria is currently the African champion after winning the 2019 All Africa Senior Badminton Championship in April.

PHIL IHAZA ABUJA "Here, it's all about the development of local talents with the hope that one day these young amateur players will make it into the national Badminton team and help fly the country's flag on a global stage."

As the players sweat it out, they are hopeful of better opportunities ahead with coach Adamu.

MICHAEL EKEH AMATEUR BADMINTON PLAYER "He is one of the reasons that motivate me to keep pushing because he has played in international standard and represented Nigeria and I want to be like him. I want to play more than him and move higher than he did."

JOY MARCUS AMATEUR BADMINTON PLAYER "The more I play the more I long to do better and I desire to be one of the best female players Nigeria has ever produced. I want to play to the international level, one of the best in the world."

But coach Adamu says the government may need to do more to develop the game in Nigeria, to make it world-class.

IBRAHIM ADAMU A&O BADMINTON ACADEMY COACH "I think the government needs to provide facilities across the nation so that we have more kids like this coming into the game and the aspect of sponsorship, at least local and international tournaments."

For now, Coach Adamu and his team will have to keep their focus and maximize their opportunities, so they're ready for global competitions. Phil Ihaza, CGTN, ABUJA, NIGERIA.