As events officially begin this weekend at the 2026 Youth Summer Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, Team Nigeria will count on athletics captain, Rosemary Chigozie Nwankwo to lead the country’s quest for medals.
Sports247 reports that it’s yet another epochal outing for the blistering precocious sprinter, who shot to prominence at the 2024 National Youth Games and, though still a secondary student, already has immense experience as an international athlete.
Her fast-paced surge has taken her from the World U20 Athletics Championship to the 2026 Commonwealth Games and now the Youth Olympics, where she is one of Nigeria’s 19 athletes carrying the country’s banner across six sports at the competition that begins on Saturday and ends on November 13th.
All eyes will be on the student at Nigerian Tulip International College, Abuja and member of N-Youth Sports Academy in the country’s contingent of 12 female and seven male athletes, who will compete in athletics, swimming, table tennis, beach volleyball, boxing and road cycling at the fourth edition of the Games.
Before heading out to Dakar on Thursday, National Sports Commission (NSC) organised a 21-day preparation camp for the athletes in Abuja from October 9th to 29th and handed them over to Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) at the start of this week for their formal presentation at Dakar 2026.
A press statement by the NSC disclosed, “The preparation programme featured medical screening, anti-doping education, technical and tactical training, kit fitting, travel documentation and final confirmation of participation requirements.
“Athletics accounts for Nigeria’s largest representation, with nine athletes comprising five females and four males. The team features Treasure Omosiwe, Rosemary Nwankwo, Rita Chisom Ezeh, Faith Ezechukwu, Praise Ugoh, Gift Bright, Gift Oghenerunor, Obanla Ehuwa and Godswill Nkemakolam.
“Rosemary Nwankwo, one of Nigeria’s promising young track athletes, has been appointed captain of the athletics team, while Matthew Kuti will lead the Nigerian table tennis contingent alongside Favour Ojo in the singles and mixed doubles events.
“Nigeria’s swimming team comprises Akinsanmi Omolola, Kristabel Chisa Oldeide, Aidan Dumuje-Abili and Kashope Obatoyinbo, with two female and two male representatives. In beach volleyball, Pamela Bawa and Joy Lawrence will form Nigeria’s women’s team.
“Shukurat Mayowa will represent the country in the women’s 48kg boxing category, while Ringnan Danjuma completes the contingent in road cycling, where she will compete in the women’s road race and individual time trial.”
Sports247 further gathered that Nigeria’s participation will begin on Saturday with table tennis and beach volleyball competitions, while swimming is billed to commence on Sunday, with boxing scheduled for November 7th to 12th.
Attention will be on Nwankwo and Kuti, as they lead their respective teams in a competition that offers Nigeria’s next generation of athletes an opportunity to make their mark, as Africa welcomes the Olympic movement for the first time anywhere in the continent.
