The Nigerian legend surpassed Jacob Maliekal’s record with his recent victory at the 2025 African Badminton Championship in Douala, Cameroon.
In the closely contested final at Gymnase de Japoma, Opeyori defeated Egypt’s Adham Hatem Elgamal to become the first player in the competition's history to win four consecutive titles.
Additionally, the two-time Olympian extended his supremacy on the continent to five wins, claiming the title of Africa's greatest badminton player of all time.
Proud of his latest victory, the devoted fan of long-time world number one Lee Chong Wei and two-time Olympic champion Lin Dan reveals the secret to his sustained success in African badminton.
"I am very happy and excited because I never thought I could win. Seeing others trying to beat me gave me the strength to keep going," Opeyori told Flashscore.
"It's all about pushing hard, training, and staying disciplined. If you're in sports, it has to be your top priority.
"For me, badminton is my number one priority - I live and dream it. Everything I think about is badminton, and I believe that dedication gave me an edge."
Opeyori recalls his toughest match of the tournament, where he had to recover from a set down to defeat Mauritius' Jean Bernard Bongout in the quarter-final.
He recounted: "There was a guy from Mauritius who was very tired, but he kept pushing.
"Getting through all those competitors was tough, and that makes me happy because the harder the battle, the sweeter the victory."
Interestingly, that was the only match in the tournament where the African champion dropped a set.
Inspiring the next generation
Since joining Jinkan Ifraimu, Ola Fagbemi, Dotun Akinsaya, Abimbola Odejoke, Agarawu Tunde and Tamuno Gibson in the esteemed group of Nigerians who have ruled Africa, the 27-year-old has become a worthy global ambassador for badminton.
Opeyori is confident that his historic achievement will play a key role in boosting the popularity and growth of badminton in his home country, Nigeria.
"I believe badminton is the fastest-growing sport in Nigeria right now," he continued.
"Besides my efforts to make the nation proud, Eniola Bolaji is also doing great in badminton.
"Before, it was just me and past players, but with my achievements and the growing awareness of badminton, we now have more representation.
"I think the sport will continue to develop in the country."
One of the rewards for becoming African champion is receiving a scholarship to the prestigious Peter Gade Academy, founded by Danish badminton legend Peter Gade.
Asked about the academy, Opeyori said: "The scholarship is meant for the winner to get more training at Peter Gade Academy.
"The academy is owned by one of the badminton legends, who developed some deceptive strokes and skills in the game.
"Attending his academy is a great achievement for any athlete because he can share his knowledge and help improve their game."
The academy collaborates with Yonex and several Danish badminton clubs, such as Gentofte Badminton Club (GBK), Copenhagen Badminton Club (KBK), and Solrod Badminton Club.
This partnership creates a well-rounded training environment for players looking to refine their skills.
What's Next for Opeyori?
While the African king is set to travel to Denmark for his scholarship at the Peter Gade Academy, he discusses his upcoming programs.
He added: "Right now, there's no set calendar - things are still a bit uncertain. However, we are planning to compete in tournaments later in the year.
"The main focus for now is training at the academy and participating in tournaments while there. That's the plan."
Having dominated Africa multiple times, Opeyori's ultimate dream is to become the first African to win a badminton match at the Olympic Games, a goal he plans to achieve at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
