The Nigeria national badminton team represents Nigeria in international badminton team competitions. It is managed by the Badminton Federation of Nigeria, the governing body of badminton in Nigeria. Nigeria was one of the seven African countries that formed the Badminton Confederation of Africa on 31 August 1977. The country first competed in the African Badminton Championships in 1980.

Nigeria made their debut in the Sudirman Cup in 1999. In 2008, the team qualified and competed in the Thomas Cup for the first time after defeating South Africa for the first time in the African qualifiers. The team have yet to qualify for the Uber Cup.

History

Men's team Nigeria's men's team first competed in the 1979 WBF World Championships. The team were drawn into Group 2 with Pakistan, Nepal and Ghana. The team lost 5−0 to Pakistan and 3−2 to Nepal in the group stage. In the classification round, the team defeated the Philippines 3−2 to finish in 10th place. In 1980, the team won the men's team event at the 1980 African Badminton Championships in Beira. In 1982, Nigeria hosted the 1982 African Badminton Championships and won their second title in the men's team event. In 1988, the team won their third men's team title at the 1988 African Badminton Championships on home soil. In 1990, the team failed to qualify for the Thomas Cup after losing their matches in the group stage.

In 2008, the team defeated South Africa 3−0 in the final of the African qualifiers and qualified for the Thomas Cup for the first time. In the 2008 Thomas Cup, the team were drawn into Group A with China and Canada. The team placed third in the group after losing 5−0 to both teams. In the wild-card round, the team lost 3−0 to England and failed to enter the quarter-finals.

In 2010, the team qualified for the Thomas Cup for a second time after defeating Mauritius 3−0 in the finals. In the 2010 Thomas Cup, the team were drawn into Group B with Japan and hosts Malaysia. In their first match against the hosts, the team failed to show up to the venue in time due to flight problems. The match was then cancelled and Malaysia were awarded a 5−0 win against Nigeria. In their second match against Japan, the team lost 5−0 and were eliminated in the group stages. In 2012, the team failed to qualify for the 2012 Thomas Cup after losing to South Africa in the final of the African qualifiers.

In 2014, the team qualified for the 2014 Thomas Cup as the highest ranked team in Africa. The team were drawn into Group A with Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore. The team were eliminated after losing 5−0 to Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore. In 2018, the team were runners-up at the African Men's Team Championships, losing 3−2 to Algeria in the final. In 2024, the team entered the finals of the African Men's Team Championships and went head to head against their final opponents from six years ago. The team started off with a 2−0 lead when Victor Ikechukwu and Anuoluwapo Juwon Opeyori defeated Koceila Mammeri and Youcef Sabri Medel in the singles matches respectively. The team however could not convert in the next three matches and lost 3−2 to Algeria.

Women's team In 1980, Nigeria finished behind Zimbabwe in the women's team event at the 1980 African Badminton Championships. In 1982, the team won the women's team title at the 1982 African Badminton Championships. In 1988, the team won their third title in the 1988 African Badminton Championships. In 1990 and 1998, the team were eliminated in the group stages of the Uber Cup qualifiers. From 2010 to 2016, the team entered the semi-finals of the Uber Cup African qualifiers but failed to qualify for the Cup tournament.

In 2018, the team lost 3−0 to Mauritius in the final of the 2018 African Women's Team Championships. In 2024, the team entered the semi-finals of the 2024 African Women's Team Championships but lost 3−2 to South Africa.

Mixed team Nigeria were back-to-back champions of the mixed team event at the African Badminton Championships in 1980 and 1982. In 1988, Nigeria won the mixed team event again at the African championships since their withdrawal in 1984. In the 1992 African Badminton Championships, the Nigerian team entered the final but refused to play against South Africa who have just returned from suspension. The team were runners-up by default. In 1991, the team withdrew from competing in the 1991 Sudirman Cup. In 1994, the team were bronze medalists at the 1994 African Badminton Championships after losing to South Africa in the semi-finals. The team also competed in the 1994 Commonwealth Games in that same year but were eliminated in the group stages.

In 1999, the team competed in the Sudirman Cup for the first time. The team were drawn into Group 7 with Estonia, Latvia and Argentina. The team defeated Argentina 5−0. The team then defeated Latvia 3−2 but lost to Estonia by the same margin and finished in 48th place. In 2003, the team competed in the All-Africa Games while it was also the host. The team entered the final but lost 3−2 to South Africa. In 2007, the team won the mixed team event at the 2007 All-Africa Games. In 2010, the team competed in the 2010 Commonwealth Games but did not make it past the group stage. In 2011, the team won the All-Africa Games mixed team event for a second time. In 2015, the team competed in the 2015 Sudirman Cup and placed 35th after defeating Kazakhstan in the playoffs.

In April 2019, the team were champions at the 2019 African Mixed Team Championships. In August 2019, the team won their third team title at the African Games. In 2023, the team competed in the 2023 African Mixed Team Championships and were eliminated in the quarter-finals after losing 3−1 to Mauritius.

Competitive record

Thomas Cup YearRound1949Part of the 1952195519581961Did not enter1964196719701973197619791982Did not qualify19841986Withdrew1988Did not enter1990Withdrew1992Did not enter199419961998Did not qualify2000Did not enter20022004Did not qualify20062008Round of 1612th2010Round of 1612th2012Did not qualify2014Group stage2016Did not enter2018Did not qualify2020Did not enter20222024Did not qualify20262028To be determined2030

Uber Cup YearRound1957Part of the 19601963to1981Did not enter1984Did not qualify19861988Did not enter1990Did not qualify1992Did not enter199419961998Did not qualify2000Did not enter2002200420062008Did not qualify201020122014Did not enter20162018Did not qualify2020Did not enter20222024Did not qualify20262028To be determined2030

Sudirman Cup YearRound1989to1997Did not enter1999Group stage48th2001Did not enter2003200520072009201120132015Group stage33rd2017Did not enter201920212023Did not qualify20252027To be determined2029

WBF World Championships

Men's team YearRound1979Group stage

Women's team YearRound1979Did not enter

Commonwealth Games

Men's team YearRound1998Did not enter

Women's team YearRound1998Did not enter

Mixed team YearRound1978to1990Did not enter1994Group stage2002Group stage2006Did not enter2010Group stage2014Did not enter201820222026To be determined

African Games

Mixed team YearRound2003Runners-up2nd2007Champions1st2011Champions1st2015Semi-finals3rd2019Champions1st2027To be determined

African Team Championships

Men's team YearRound1979Did not enter1980Champions1st1982Champions1st1984Did not enter1988Champions1st2016Did not enter2018Runners-up2nd2020Did not enter20222024Runners-up2nd2026Quarter-finals5th2028To be determined2030

Women's team YearRound1979Did not enter1980Runners-up2nd1982Champions1st1984Did not enter1988Champions1st2016Did not enter2018Runners-up2nd2020Did not enter20222024Semi-finals4th2026Semi-finals4th2028To be determined2030

Mixed team YearRound1980Champions1st1982Champions1st1984Did not enter1988Champions1st1992Runners-up2nd1994Semi-finals3rd1998Did not enter2000Runners-up2nd2002Runners-up2nd2004Runners-up2nd2006Did not enter20072009Group stage5th2011Runners-up2nd2013Runners-up2nd2014Runners-up2nd2017Semi-finals3rd2019Champions1st2021Did not enter2023Quarter-finals5th2025Quarter-finals5th2027To be determined2029

**Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.

Junior competitive record Suhandinata Cup

YearRound2000Withdrew2002Group stage18th2004Did not enter2006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920222023202420252026Withdrew

Commonwealth Youth Games Mixed team YearRound2004Did not enter

African Youth Games

Men's team YearRound2018Champions1st

Women's team YearRound2018Semi-finals3rd

Mixed team YearRound2014Champions1st

African Junior Team Championships Mixed team YearRound1979Did not enter1980Champions1st1982Champions1st1984Did not enter1988Champions1st1993Runners-up2nd1995Runners-up2nd1997Third place3rd1999Champions1st2001Runners-up2nd2003Withdrew2005Champions1st2007Did not enter200920112013Runners-up2nd2016Did not enter202120222024To be determined **Red border color indicates tournament was held on home soil.

Players

Current squad

Men's team NameDoB/AgeRanking of eventMSMDXDAnuoluwapo Juwon Opeyori121534 -Emmanuel Olusegun Ogunsanwo563304 -Joseph Abel974304 -Joseph Emmanuel Emmy609295 -Victor Ikechukwu691295 -Saddam Sidi Rufai1134304 -Khalil Safana Shamsuddeen609304 -Godwin Olofua 442505 -David Oluwasegun Ogunsanwo 694505 -Yunusa Momoh -362516

Women's team NameDoB/AgeRanking of eventWSWDXDGrace Gabriel243210516Chineye Ibere340357 -Naomi Tanko470 - -Zainab Damilola Alabi465457 -Ramatu Yakubu -210271Uchechukwu Deborah Ukeh586357 -Sofiat Arinola Obanishola 586457 -Dorcas Ajoke Adesokan -457 -Aminat Oluwafunke Ilori1029457 -Umar Maryam - -426

Previous squads

Thomas Cup

2008, 2010, 2014

References

External links