The Nigerian Archery Team has successfully completed its campaign at the 13th African Archery Championship in Nabeul, Tunisia which ran from Tuesday, 7 November to Sunday, 12 November, 2023.
The continental championship had in attendance 20 African countries who competed across all the bow categories and events.
The Nigerian Archery Team, comprising of Emmanuel Oyekele (Captain), Olatayo Olasehinde, Damilola Sholademi and Kachollom Eyenihen, competed in the Compound Bow category and in the individual men and women’s event, male team event and mixed team event. The team won a bronze medal in the male team category, silver medal in the mixed team category (male and female) and a bronze medal in the individual female category.
Recall that the team won two silver medals in Pretoria, South Africa in 2022. This would be the Nigeria’s first and highest achievement in Archery since the sport started in Nigeria. And this year, the country has won two bronze medals and a silver medal by the same set of archers. From being unseeded, Nigeria now ranks 8th on the continent in Archery.
Nigerian male archers, Emmanuel Oyekele, Damilola Sholademi and Olatayo Olasehinde now rank 4th, 7th and 9th individually and female archer, Kachollom Enyenihi ranked 3rd.
This Archery team has been self-funded by the archers and their archery clubs, ARCH Archery Club, Abuja and Zen Archery, Lagos, since their first appearance on the continental scene in 2022 and they have continued to do so till date. There are several international championships annually that these archers need to attend to maintain their global rankings. This is a call on well-meaning individuals corporate organizations to assist and fund this brilliant team to bring more glory globally to Nigeria in the sports of Archery.
