Missing Equipment Couldn’t Stop Sholademi as Nigeria Sets New Archery Medal Record

Nigeria’s most decorated archer, Damilola Sholademi, has revealed how a major equipment setback almost disrupted his participation at the 15th African Archery Championships in Oran, Algeria, where Team Nigeria achieved its best-ever performance.

Nigeria won seven medals at the tournament—one gold, five silver, and one bronze—surpassing its previous record of three medals.

The competition, held from July 21 to 26, featured 138 archers from 18 African countries.

The country’s only gold medal came in the women’s barebow team event, where Faith Adekogbe, Mandu Eteidung, and Precious Fanny-Amun defeated host nation Algeria 5-3 to claim the continental title.

Sholademi was part of the men’s compound team alongside Aliyu Abubakar and Seun Oyeleke.

The trio defeated Algeria in the semi-finals before losing to Mauritius in the final and settling for silver.

However, he disclosed that his personal campaign was nearly derailed when his archery equipment went missing at Algiers International Airport.

The equipment was not recovered until after the championship, forcing him to travel for hours between cities and eventually compete with a borrowed bow.

Despite the challenge, Sholademi remained focused and won a silver medal, describing the experience as proof that success depends more on determination and skill than equipment.

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