With the countdown to the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games entering its final days, Nigeria will be banking on 19 young athletes to fly the country’s flag across six sports at the historic competition in Senegal.

The Nigerian contingent comprises 12 female and seven male athletes who will compete in athletics, boxing, road cycling, swimming, table tennis and beach volleyball when the Games begin on October 31.

The competition, which runs until November 13, will make history as the first Olympic sporting event to be hosted on African soil. 

Events will take place across three host zones Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly as young athletes from around the world gather to compete for honours.

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

Swimming follows with four competitors, while table tennis will feature two athletes, one male and one female. Nigeria will also present one female boxer, one female road cyclist and a two-member women’s beach volleyball team.

Ahead of the competition, Team Nigeria has been undergoing an intensive 21-day local camping programme that began on October 9 and is scheduled to end on October 29. 

The preparations have covered medical screening, anti-doping education, technical and tactical training, kit fitting, travel documentation and other essential arrangements.

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

For Nigeria, the Games represent an opportunity to showcase its emerging sporting talents, gain valuable international experience and build a stronger foundation for future senior level competitions, including the Olympic Games.

As preparations enter their final phase, the National Sports Commission has urged the young athletes to justify the confidence placed in them by delivering impressive performances and making the country proud on the global stage.