By Joel Ajayi

Nigeria has received commendation from the President of World Archery Africa, Ahmed Tarik Amiry, for successfully hosting the 2026 EXOCATA International Open Archery Championship in Abuja, with stakeholders expressing optimism about the country’s prospects of qualifying athletes for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

The three-day championship, which attracted archers from more than 10 countries, was held at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre in Abuja, where the newly established archery facility provided a platform for athletes to showcase their skills and compete at the international level.

Amiry, who spoke on Sunday at the competition, described the event as a success, praising Nigeria for demonstrating its capacity to host international archery competitions.

“Congratulations to Nigeria for hosting the EXOCATA International Open Archery Championship. It has been a very successful event, and I wish Nigeria all the best in future competitions,” he said.

The African archery chief particularly commended the Nigerian Army for providing a dedicated facility for the sport, describing the initiative as an important contribution to the development of archery in Nigeria and across the continent.

He also expressed his desire to see more African countries and athletes represented at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, noting that the growth of the sport across the continent would be reflected in stronger participation at the global event.

“As President of the African Archery Federation, I wish to see more archers and more countries from across Africa represented at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games,” Amiry said.

He also congratulated the Nigerian Archery Federation and the Nigerian Olympic Committee for their contributions to the successful organisation of the championship.

In his addressed, the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Waidi Shaibu, reaffirmed the Nigerian Army’s commitment to national development through sports, describing the establishment of the Nigerian Army Archery Shooting Range at the Nigerian Army Conference Centre in Abuja as a significant milestone for the sport.

Shaibu, who welcomed international participants to the championship, said the facility would help nurture emerging talents, improve technical proficiency and create more opportunities for national and international competitions.

He expressed optimism that the range would gradually develop into a centre of excellence capable of attracting athletes, coaches and technical officials from Nigeria and other countries.

According to him, the Army’s support for archery reflects its understanding that military institutions have important roles to play in national development beyond their primary responsibility of defending the country’s territorial integrity.

The Army chief highlighted the strong connection between archery and military training, noting that both require concentration, patience, precision, discipline and the ability to perform under pressure.

“In archery, as in military operations, success is rarely accidental. It comes through deliberate planning, repeated practice, sound judgment and the discipline to remain focused when the stakes are high,” he said.

He added that archery could promote mental resilience, self-discipline and competitive excellence among military personnel, while creating opportunities for talented officers and soldiers to represent the Nigerian Army and the country at major competitions.

Shaibu also stressed that sports remained essential to the physical, mental and psychological well-being of military personnel, noting that a well-rounded soldier must possess resilience and a competitive spirit alongside professional competence.

He commended the international delegations for participating in the championship, describing sports as an effective instrument for fostering friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding among nations.

Speaking also, the elated President of the Nigeria Archery Federation, Mohammed Baba Abdullahi, described the championship as a resounding success, noting that the participation of athletes from more than 10 countries demonstrated the growing international appeal of the competition.

Abdullahi said the 15th edition of the Exocata championship exceeded expectations, expanding its traditional West African reach to accommodate participants from other parts of Africa and beyond, including Pakistan.

“The mission has been accomplished. We started planning for this event without knowing it would turn out this successfully and colourfully,” he said.

He disclosed that the championship also served as a designated African training camp for athletes preparing for the International Youth Olympic Games scheduled for November, providing participants with an opportunity to test their abilities and improve their competitive readiness.

The federation president expressed confidence in Nigeria’s ability to qualify archers for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, insisting that the country possesses the talent required to compete at the highest level.

“We have the best materials and rank among the top three in Africa. Our aspiration to participate in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games is achievable,” he said.

Abdullahi noted that Nigerian archers had participated in African and regional championships, with some recording notable performances at international competitions.

He, however, emphasised the need for sustained investment, improved training opportunities and strategic partnerships to translate the country’s potential into Olympic qualification and medal-winning performances.

He said the federation remained committed to collaborating with government agencies, corporate organisations and private individuals to expand athlete development programmes and improve access to specialised sporting facilities.

The successful hosting of the 2026 Exocata International Open Archery Championship has strengthened calls for greater investment in sports infrastructure and athlete development as Nigeria pursues a stronger presence on the international stage.

With the Nigerian Army providing specialised facilities, the Nigeria Archery Federation seeking strategic partnerships and World Archery Africa encouraging wider continental participation, stakeholders believe the competition could serve as a springboard for the sport’s growth.

Beyond the medals and international recognition, the championship has highlighted the importance of sustained preparation, technical development and institutional collaboration in producing athletes capable of competing against the world’s best.

For Nigeria, the immediate ambition is to build on the success of the Abuja championship, strengthen its archery programme and pursue qualification for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

The broader hope is that the new facility will provide a lasting foundation for discovering talents, developing future champions and positioning Nigeria as an important destination for international archery competitions in Africa.