Nigeria set for Africa’s first-ever Olympic event in Dakar

By Tosin Omojola

With five days to go before the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, Nigeria is preparing to join the global sporting community for the historic event, which will place Africa at the centre of the Olympic movement from October 31 to November 13.

The Games are expected to feature approximately 2,700 young athletes from across the world, marking the first time an Olympic event will be held on African soil.

The event will provide Nigeria and other African countries with an opportunity to showcase their emerging sporting talents on the international stage.

Under the motto, “Africa Welcomes, Dakar Celebrates,” the Games will offer young athletes an opportunity to compete at the international level, gain valuable experience and embrace the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect.

For Nigeria, participation represents an opportunity to strengthen youth sports development pathways, expose emerging talents to elite international competition and lay the foundation for future Olympic success.

As the countdown continues, the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) remain focused on promoting sports development and creating opportunities for young Nigerian athletes to excel on the global stage.