With five days remaining before the opening of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, Nigeria is preparing to join the global sporting community for a historic competition that will bring the Olympic movement to African soil for the first time from October 31 to November 13.

The Games are expected to attract approximately 2,700 young athletes from across the world, providing a major international platform for emerging talents to showcase their abilities, gain valuable competitive experience and represent their countries on the global stage.

With the motto, “Africa welcomes, Dakar celebrates,” the event represents a landmark moment for African sports, offering young athletes an opportunity to demonstrate excellence, build international relationships and embrace the Olympic values of friendship and respect.

For Nigeria, participation in the Games presents an opportunity to strengthen its youth sports development pathway, identify future champions and prepare emerging athletes for senior international competitions, including future editions of the Olympic Games.

As the countdown gathers momentum, the National Sports Commission (NSC) and Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) remain committed to advancing sports development and creating opportunities for young Nigerian athletes to excel internationally.

 The Dakar 2026 Games could provide a valuable foundation for the country's next generation of sporting stars as Nigeria seeks to translate youth talent into sustained success on the world stage.