Sholademi reflects on Nigeria's historic archery medal haul

Damilola Sholademi reflected on Nigeria's impressive performance at the 15th African Archery Championships held from July 21 to 26, 2026, in Oran, Algeria. The country achieved a record tally of seven medals, including one gold, five silver, and one bronze, marking its best-ever performance at the continental championships. Sholademi played a pivotal role in this success, competing with borrowed equipment after his own bow went missing during transit.

The pinnacle of Nigeria's achievements came in the women's barebow team event, where the trio of Faith Adekogbe, Mandu Eteidung, and Precious Fanny-Amun secured gold by defeating the host nation, Algeria, with a score of 5-3. Sholademi was part of the men's compound team, alongside Aliyu Abubakar and Seun Emmanuel Oyeleke. They advanced to the finals after overcoming Algeria with a score of 205-183 but ultimately settled for silver after losing 197-182 to Mauritius.

In an expression of pride, Sholademi stated, "Honestly, we did well. This is our largest medal count. The best we’ve ever had was just three in Tunisia." The Technical Director of the Nigeria Archery Federation (NAFED) credited the achievement to extensive preparation and the collaborative efforts of various archery clubs, particularly the ARCH Archery Club and Shooters' Archery Club, which have contributed to the training of military personnel now competing in the Defense Archery team.

Currently pursuing a Level 3 national coaching certification in the United States, Sholademi has been volunteering to teach archery while reflecting on his challenging journey to the podium in Oran. His equipment mishap remained unresolved until after the championships, necessitating a 13-hour road journey and competition with unfamiliar borrowed gear. Despite these obstacles, he remained committed to his team's objective, stating, "I didn’t let it get to me, despite the physical and emotional trauma. I had to keep my gaze on what was at stake. And as the Team Manager, I couldn’t afford to show that my resolve was broken; I had to show strength and courage."

Sholademi described competing with borrowed equipment as one of the toughest experiences of his career, highlighting the challenges of adapting to a foreign compound bow on short notice. He remarked, "Borrowing a compound bow that you’re unfamiliar with a few minutes before shooting is like jumping out of an aeroplane without a parachute. While I didn’t break my personal record, my silver medal reminded me that it’s not the bow that makes the archer; rather, it’s having the heart of an archer."

The Nigerian delegation to the championships included 18 athletes, featuring prominent figures such as Aliyu Abubakar and Kachollom Enyenihi, further showcasing the depth of talent in the national team. Following their success in Oran, the Nigerian national archery team will now compete under the new identity—The Flames.