Nigeria is intensifying preparations for the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games as the countdown to Africa’s first Olympic sporting event enters its final month.
In a chat with NEW NATIONAL STAR SPORTS on Thursday Senior Assistant to Director General of National Sports Commission Kola Daniel on Thursday in Abuja stated that, the Games are scheduled to hold from October 31 to November 13, 2026, in Senegal, with about 2,700 young athletes aged 17 and under expected to participate.
He gave the hint that Nigeria’s Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, said the Games provide another opportunity for the country to identify, nurture and expose emerging sporting talents to international competition.
Olopade said the Commission remains committed to strengthening the development pathway for young athletes and building a sustainable future for Nigerian sports through increased exposure at major international competitions.
The Dakar Games will feature 25 sports and 10 additional engagement sports, offering young athletes opportunities to compete while promoting interaction and participation beyond the traditional competition programme.
Competitions will take place across three host zones in Senegal — Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly — where athletes and officials from different countries will converge for two weeks of youth sporting activities.
As preparations enter the final stretch, attention is shifting to the Nigerian athletes expected to represent the country in Dakar and gain valuable experience that could shape their future international careers.
Olopade said Nigeria’s participation would form part of the broader effort to develop a strong pipeline of athletes capable of representing the country at future Olympic Games and other global competitions.
The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games will also mark a historic milestone as the first Olympic sporting event to be hosted on African soil.
