Oyebanji pulls out of Cameroon open

Former Nigeria number one and 2011 winner of the Cameroon International Championship, Gboyega Oyebanji, has pulled-out of this year’s edition of the event. The IBB International Golf and Country Club assistant professional said that his reasons are personal as he would have loved to be part of the championship. “Although my game is not in top shape I would still have loved to make the event.

I have a natural attraction for the venue, maybe because I have won there before. But for personal reasons, I want to be exempted from this year’s event.” Despite Oyebanji’s expected absence, seven other Nigerians have signified their intention to take part in this year’s tournament taking place at the Tiko Golf Club, in Likomba, Yaoundé.


They are Gift Willy, Oche Odoh, Olapade Sunday, Chidi Tobias, Liadi Jaiyeola, Magnus Onumajuru and Kingsley Oparakwu. Oyebanji won the second edition of the Cameroon Open in 2011, a year after another Nigerian; Ali Abdullahi won the tournament’s inaugural edition.

Abdullahi however died three days after his victory in Cameroon, on May 19, 2010, in a car crash on his way to Minna, Niger state in Nigeria. The 26-year-old was Nigeria’s number one ranked golfer at the time of his death and the Cameroon Golf Federation, FECAGOLF, will be honouring his memory at this year’s championship which runs from May 7 to 10.