Sprinter Nwankwo leads 19-member team to Dakar 2026 as Nigeria's flagbearer

Nigerian sprinter Rosemary Chigozie Nwankwo led the country's 19-member contingent at the opening ceremony of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal where she served as Team Nigeria's flagbearer.

Nwankwo carried the Nigerian flag as the athletes marched into the Abdoulaye Wade Stadium in Diamniadio on Saturday, October 31, during a ceremony celebrating African culture and the start of the fourth edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games.

The Nigerian contingent comprises 12 female and seven male athletes competing in six sports: athletics, boxing, road cycling, swimming, table tennis and beach volleyball.

Athletics has the largest Nigerian representation, with nine athletes, including Nwankwo, Treasure Omosiwe, Rita Chisom Ezeh, Faith Ezechukwu, Praise Ugoh, Gift Bright, Gift Oghenerunor, Obanla Ehuwa and Godswill Nkemakolam.

The athletics team will compete in events including the 100 metres, 100m hurdles, 400m hurdles, 400 metres, shot put, high jump and javelin. Nwankwo is among Nigeria's representatives in the women's 100 metres.

Other Nigerian representatives include table tennis players Matthew Kuti and Favour Ojo, four swimmers, a female boxer, a female road cyclist and a two-athlete women's beach volleyball team.

According to a statement by the National Sports Commission, signed by its Director-General's Special Assistant on Media, Kola Daniel, the Games will run from October 31 to November 13, with competitions taking place across Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly.

The athletics and road cycling events are scheduled for selected dates between November 8 and 10, while boxing will take place from November 7 to 12.

The 2026 edition marks a historic milestone as Senegal becomes the first African country to host an Olympic sporting event. More than 2,700 young athletes from around the world are expected to participate.