African Badminton champion Anuoluwapo Opeyori has voiced his frustration over visa-related issues that have disrupted his training plans ahead of the Olympic Games.

The Nigerian athlete lamented that while his counterparts from other African nations have commenced their preparations, his own efforts have been stalled due to the stringent scrutiny applied to Nigerian passports.

Opeyori shared his disappointment, noting that the delays in receiving his passport back have rendered his training schedule unfeasible.

“I could not go for the training because the time of when they returned the passports was overdue for the training. I had a three-week training plan, but they returned the passport after one week, which didn’t align with my schedule,” Opeyori explained.

He contrasted his situation with that of athletes from other African countries, highlighting how their passports afford them more flexibility.

“If the passport is strong, they could give me the visa on the same day or the second day, and that would make more sense and allow me to travel. I’m competing with athletes from countries like Mauritius, who can go to France or any Schengen country for three months visa-free,” he said.

Opeyori further shared his ongoing struggle to secure visas for upcoming tournaments, emphasizing the recurrent challenges faced by Nigerian athletes.

“Right now, I’m even processing a visa for another tournament I’m going for. The Reunion Island is under French territory, and I’m still waiting for the passport to come back. It’s the usual ordeal—waiting for the visa and hoping to go for my tournament if they grant me one.”

Opeyori’s comments shed light on the bureaucratic hurdles that Nigerian athletes often encounter, which can hinder their preparation and competitiveness on the international stage.