Nigeria Proves Archery Hosting Capability at Lagos International Open

Emmanuel Oyeleke, founder of the Zen Archery Club, celebrated the successful conclusion of the 2026 Zen Archery Lagos International Open Tournament. He declared the event proof that Nigeria can host world-class archery competitions.

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We've demonstrated to the world that this is possible, this is possible especially in Nigeria, to organise a world standard event in Lagos, Nigeria, with multiple participating teams from different countries, and for it to be a great and resounding success.

The four-day tournament, held at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos, saw athletes from Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, Zimbabwe, and Chad participate. This edition marked the largest since the competition's inception.

"We've demonstrated to the world that this is possible, this is possible especially in Nigeria, to organise a world standard event in Lagos, Nigeria," Oyeleke stated. He added that the atmosphere was charged and the success resounding, with athletes, organizers, and judges all expressing satisfaction.

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The atmosphere has been really charged, it’s been really good, the success has been resounding, all the athletes are really happy. Organisers are really happy, the judges are satisfied with the competition and everything has gone smoothly so far so it’s been a huge success and I’m more than fulfilled with the current state of things.

The tournament, a collaboration between Zen Archery Club and the Lagos State Sports Commission, aims to expose local athletes to stronger competition from across Africa. Director-General of the commission, Lekan Fatodu, noted the sport's contribution to youth development, mental growth, focus, and discipline, as well as its role in strengthening Lagos' reputation as a sporting destination.

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The power of sports like archery in providing physical stability, mental growth, focus and discipline for young people is remarkable.

Chairperson of the Local Organising Committee, Aderonke Aderinoye, echoed the sentiment of success and expressed hope for an even larger event next year. Côte d’Ivoire emerged as the dominant team, particularly in the recurve events, with Yao Kouassi Chadrac winning the 50m Recurve M.

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We had a very successful session over the last three to four days with all our athletes competing at the topmost level. And we are happy that we’ve come to a successful end. It was a good one and we hope to have a bigger one same time next year.