Dakar 2026 Youth Olympics: Nigeria Names 19 Athletes For Six Sports

…Team Nigeria targets strong showing as 12 women and seven men prepare for historic Games in Senegal

Team Nigeria will compete in six sports with 19 athletes at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games as preparations enter their final stage ahead of the historic event, which begins in Senegal on 31 October.

The Nigerian contingent comprises 12 women and seven men who will compete in athletics, boxing, road cycling, swimming, table tennis and beach volleyball at the fourth edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games.

The Games, which run until 13 November, will mark the first time an Olympic sporting event is hosted on African soil, with competitions taking place across three locations: Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly.

Athletics will provide Nigeria’s largest representation, with nine athletes, comprising five women and four men.

Swimming will feature four Nigerian competitors, split equally between men and women, while table tennis will have two representatives, one male and one female.

Nigeria will also field one female boxer, one female road cyclist and a two-athlete women’s beach volleyball team.

The contingent is undergoing final preparations following a 21-day camping programme that began on 9 October and is scheduled to end on 29 October.

The programme has included medical screening, anti-doping education, technical and tactical training, kit fitting, travel documentation and other preparations ahead of the team’s departure for Senegal.

The opening ceremony is scheduled for 31 October at the Diamniadio Olympic Stadium, with table tennis and beach volleyball competitions also set to begin on the opening day.

The Youth Olympic Games will provide Nigeria’s emerging athletes with an opportunity to test themselves against some of the world’s best young competitors while gaining valuable international experience.

The exposure is also expected to contribute to their long-term development as they work towards senior-level competitions, including the Olympic Games.

As the countdown continues, the National Sports Commission (NSC) has urged the Nigerian athletes to represent the country with pride and translate their preparations into strong performances in Senegal.

With 19 athletes competing across six sports, Nigeria will be seeking to make a positive impression at a Games that offers both a historic milestone for Africa and an important platform for the next generation of sporting talent.