Archery Tournament in Lagos: Five Countries Compete for N12m Prize

Archers from Nigeria and four other countries are in Lagos for the Zen Archery Lagos International Open Tournament 3.0. The tournament started on Thursday, June 18 and will end on Sunday, June 21, 2026, at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Onikan. The organisers have set up a total prize pool of about N12m across different categories.

Countries taking part include Nigeria, Guinea, Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast, and Chad. This tournament is organised by Zen Archery Club in partnership with the Lagos State Sports Commission. This is a big increase in international participation compared to the 2025 edition, which included only Ivory Coast and Nigeria.

Over 100 athletes are expected to participate in eight categories. These categories include Recurve, Compound, and Barebow divisions for both men and women. There are also Under-18 Barebow and Recurve events on the schedule. Competitors will compete in both individual and team formats over the four days, including youth, beginners, mixed, and mixed-team divisions. Nigeria's teams will include the Navy, Air Force, and several archery clubs from various parts of the country.

Aderonke Aderinoye, the LOC Chairman, said this tournament shows that more African archery nations want to compete together. She also spoke about their ambitions that go beyond the Lagos event. "Every edition of this tournament has been a statement about what is possible when African archery nations choose to compete together rather than apart. Going from two countries to five in a single year tells us the appetite is there. Our job now is to build the kind of infrastructure and experience that makes archers want to keep coming back to Lagos," Aderinoye said.

"We have also sent some of our members for World Archery coaching training so we are even developing coaches to standard to ensure that athletes are trained properly at the topmost level. We are not just trying to be local champions, we are trying to be global champions. Our goal is to have Nigeria at the Olympics and World Archery table," she added.

Emmanuel Oyeleke, the founder of Zen Archery, described the tournament as part of a larger vision to make Lagos a central place for the sport in Africa. He insisted that the standard of organisation keeps improving every year. "What we are building in Lagos is bigger than a competition. It is a platform for talent discovery, for youth development, and for showing the rest of the continent that Nigeria can host world-class sport on its own soil. Five countries on the start line this year is proof that the work is paying off," Oyeleke said.

Lekan Fatodu, the Director-General of Lagos State Sports Commission, said this tournament shows that Lagos is becoming known for more than just football. "Many have been seeing and hearing that Lagos is the powerhouse and epicentre of sports, not just football, as our community has become a beehive of sporting activities over the last four months and they are of the international dimension.

"We want to use it to communicate community cohesion, opportunities for our young people, and promote unity across all tribes and beyond that, fostering relationships across Africa," Fatodu said.

Visiting officials also showed excitement about the tournament’s growth. Sikiru Disu, the Secretary General of the Ivory Coast Archery Federation, said his federation is committed to supporting the event. "We are here today to participate in the competition and are very happy to be here to support Zen Archery. Last year, we came with our team and participated in the competition. It’s a big pleasure to be here and we are coming to do our best to participate and to have a very good competition," Disu said.

Zimbabwe is making its first appearance at the tournament with one athlete. Team representative Judith Margaret expressed hope for future participation. "We are very grateful for the opportunity to come to Nigeria and participate in this competition. Unfortunately, we only have one athlete this year but the plan is to increase year by year. For what you are doing and how we have seen archery grow in Nigeria in just a few years is nothing short of incredible. You guys have done something remarkable for archery. And it’s been an incredible welcome from the people of Nigeria," Margaret said.

The tournament takes place at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, a venue that can hold 10,000 people. It was previously known as Onikan Stadium and King George V Stadium. The 2025 edition saw a visit from Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who met with young athletes and participated in a live archery demonstration. It also marked the launch of the Zen Archery Foundation, which supports grassroots coaching and youth talent development across Nigeria.