Team Nigeria is in Dakar, Senegal, ahead of the 2026 Summer Youth Olympic Games, with 19 athletes set to represent the country across six sports at the historic competition scheduled to begin on Saturday, October 31.
The Nigerian contingent, comprising 12 female and seven male athletes, will compete in athletics, swimming, table tennis, beach volleyball, boxing and road cycling at the fourth edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games, which runs until November 13.
Dakar 2026 will mark the first time an Olympic sporting event is hosted on African soil, with competitions spread across three host zones: Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly.
The National Sports Commission (NSC) organised a 21-day domestic preparation camp for the athletes in Abuja from October 9 to 29 before handing the contingent over to the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) ahead of its departure for Senegal on Thursday, October 29.
The preparation programme featured medical screening, anti-doping education, technical and tactical training, kit fitting, travel documentation and final confirmation of participation requirements.
Rosemary Nwankwo, Matthew Kuti Lead Nigerian Contingent
Athletics accounts for Nigeria’s largest representation, with nine athletes comprising five females and four males.
The team features Treasure Omosiwe, Rosemary Nwankwo, Rita Chisom Ezeh, Faith Ezechukwu, Praise Ugoh, Gift Bright, Gift Oghenerunor, Obanla Ehuwa and Godswill Nkemakolam.
Rosemary Nwankwo, one of Nigeria’s promising young track athletes, has been appointed captain of the athletics team, while table tennis player Matthew Kuti will lead the Nigerian contingent in his sport.
Kuti will compete alongside Favour Ojo in the singles and mixed doubles events.
Nigeria’s swimming team comprises Akinsanmi Omolola, Kristabel Chisa Oldeide, Aidan Dumuje-Abili and Kashope Obatoyinbo, with two female and two male representatives.
In beach volleyball, Pamela Bawa and Joy Lawrence will form Nigeria’s women’s team.
Shukurat Mayowa will represent the country in the women’s 48kg boxing category, while Ringnan Danjuma completes the contingent in road cycling, where she will compete in the women’s road race and individual time trial.
Full List of Team Nigeria Athletes and Their Events
Athletics (9):
- Treasure Omosiwe
- Rosemary Nwankwo
- Rita Chisom Ezeh
- Faith Ezechukwu
- Praise Ugoh
- Gift Bright
- Gift Oghenerunor
- Obanla Ehuwa
- Godswill Nkemakolam
Events: 100m, 100m hurdles, 400m, 400m hurdles, shot put, high jump and javelin throw.
Swimming (4):
- Akinsanmi Omolola
- Kristabel Chisa Oldeide
- Aidan Dumuje-Abili
- Kashope Obatoyinbo
Events: Individual swimming competitions.
Table Tennis (2):
- Favour Ojo
- Matthew Kuti
Events: Singles and mixed doubles.
Beach Volleyball (2):
- Pamela Bawa
- Joy Lawrence
Event: Women’s beach volleyball.
Boxing (1):
- Shukurat Mayowa
Event: Women’s 48kg.
Road Cycling (1):
- Ringnan Danjuma
Events: Women’s road race and individual time trial.
Nigeria’s Competition Schedule
Nigeria’s participation is scheduled to begin on Saturday, October 31, with table tennis and beach volleyball competitions opening on the same day as the Games.
Swimming will commence on November 1, while boxing is scheduled for November 7 to 12. Athletics and road cycling will take place on selected dates between November 8 and 10.
The competition venues include Saly Beach West for beach volleyball, Dakar Expo Centre for table tennis and boxing, the Tour de l’Œuf Complex for swimming, Corniche Ouest for road cycling and the Iba Mar Diop Complex for athletics.
The opening ceremony will take place at the Diamniadio Olympic Stadium on October 31, with the closing ceremony scheduled for November 13.
153 Medal Events Across 25 Sports
The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games will feature 153 medal events across 25 competition sports, alongside 10 engagement sports, with more than 2,700 young athletes expected from around the world.
The medal programme comprises 73 men’s events, 73 women’s events and seven mixed events.
For Nigeria, the competition represents an important opportunity to showcase its emerging sporting talents, gain valuable international exposure and strengthen the development pathway towards senior international competitions.
With athletics providing almost half of the country’s representation, attention will also be on Nwankwo and Kuti as they lead their respective teams in a competition that offers Nigeria’s next generation of athletes an opportunity to make their mark.
As Africa welcomes the Olympic movement for the first time, Team Nigeria will be hoping to translate its preparations into memorable performances and medals in Dakar.
