Nigeria will send 19 athletes across six sports to the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games as the team completes its final preparations for the competition in Senegal.
The National Sports Commission (NSC) confirmed that the squad includes 12 female athletes and seven male athletes. They will compete in athletics, boxing, road cycling, swimming, table tennis and beach volleyball.
The Games begin on 31 October and run until 13 November. They will mark the first time an Olympic sporting event has taken place on African soil.
The fourth edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games will use three host zones: Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly. Young athletes from around the world are expected to take part.
Athletics Leads Nigeria’s Six Sport Campaign
Athletics will have Nigeria’s largest group, with nine competitors. The team includes five women and four men.
Swimming will feature four athletes, with two women and two men. Nigeria will also have two table tennis players, one male and one female.
The remaining places are spread across three sports. Nigeria will field one female boxer, one female road cyclist and a women’s beach volleyball team of two athletes.
According to the NSC, the athletes are completing a 21 day local camping programme that began on 9 October and is scheduled to finish on 29 October.
The camp has covered several areas of preparation. These include medical screening, anti doping education, technical and tactical training, kit fitting and travel documentation. The programme has also addressed other arrangements needed before the team travels to Senegal.
The opening ceremony will take place on 31 October at the Diamniadio Olympic Stadium. Table tennis and beach volleyball competitions are also expected to begin that day.
For Nigeria’s rising sports stars, the Youth Olympic Games offer a valuable chance to gain international experience and test themselves against leading young athletes from other countries. The competition can also help them prepare for future senior events, including the Olympic Games.
As the start date approaches, the NSC has urged the athletes to represent Nigeria with distinction. The commission will hope their final preparations lead to strong performances in Senegal.
