By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
Team Nigeria has made a colourful appearance at the opening ceremony of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal, marking the beginning of the country’s campaign at the historic sporting event.
Led by athletics sensation Rosemary Chigozie Nwankwo, Nigeria’s contingent marched into the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio on Saturday, proudly displaying the national colours before thousands of spectators.
Nwankwo, who served as the country’s flagbearer, leads a 19-member team comprising 12 female and seven male athletes competing for honours in six sports.
The Nigerian athletes will compete in athletics, boxing, road cycling, swimming, table tennis and beach volleyball, with expectations high for a strong showing at the Games.
Nwankwo is among Nigeria’s medal prospects, particularly in the women’s 100 metres, where she will seek to translate her promising form into a podium finish.
The opening ceremony featured colourful displays of Senegalese music, dance and cultural performances, celebrating African heritage, unity and sporting excellence.
The event also underscored Africa’s historic milestone as Senegal becomes the first African nation to host an Olympic sporting event.
A major highlight was the arrival of the Youth Olympic flame, which travelled through Senegal’s 14 administrative regions over more than 45 days before its arrival at the stadium for the lighting of the official cauldron.
The fourth edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games will feature 13 days of competition across Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly, bringing together young athletes from across the world.
Nigeria’s participation offers another platform for its emerging sporting talents to showcase their abilities on the global stage.
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