Nigeria Team Lands in Algeria for Archery Championships

Team Nigeria has arrived in Oran, Algeria today for the 15th African Archery Championships. The event will take place from July 21 to 26. The Nigeria Archery Federation said this is Nigeria's biggest and most balanced team for a continental championship so far. The team has 18 athletes competing in six categories.

The delegation is going to compete in the compound, recurve, and barebow events for both men and women. The team is led by NAFED president, Mohammed Baba Abdullahi, with vice president Augustine Obiefuna Chigbolu and coach Aliyu Garga.

In the men's compound category, the team includes Aliyu Abubakar, Ogheneovo Odjuwuederhie, Seun Emmanuel Oyeleke, and Damilola Bartholomew Sholademi. For the women’s compound event, Kachollom Larai Enyenihi and Haareke Evans will represent Nigeria. The men’s recurve team features Tobi Bello, Tosin Junaid, and Francis Okechukwu Okwu, while Dara Dorcas Banjo will compete in the women’s recurve.

In the barebow categories, Abdul Rahman Obasa, Abdulbasit Sanni, Arulogun Segun Joseph, and Abubakar Usman will represent the men. The women’s barebow team includes Faith Adekogbe, Aminat Adeyemi, Mandu Eteidung, and Precious Fanny-Amun.

Nigeria is entering these championships with strong hopes of winning medals. The team has won medals at previous African Championships in Pretoria in 2022 and Nabeul, Tunisia, in 2023. They also took gold at the African Championships in Abidjan and the first Run Archery Tournament in Abidjan in 2025.

Emmanuel Oyeleke, NAFED’s director of marketing, urged corporate Nigeria to support the team. He highlighted the high costs involved in sending a national team to compete at this level.

“Every arrow our athletes send towards the target in Oran carries the hopes of a nation and the future of a sport that is growing faster in Nigeria than anywhere else on the continent. These athletes have trained with discipline and sacrifice. What they need now is the backing of corporate Nigeria, partners who want to be part of a story of excellence at the very beginning of its arc,” Oyeleke said.

The championships will start with official practice and equipment inspection on July 21. The qualification round is set for July 22. Individual eliminations will take place on July 23. Team and mixed team eliminations are scheduled for July 24. The finals and award ceremonies will wrap up the event on July 25 and 26.