Dakar 2026: Eight Athletes Step Up Preparations For Nigeria’s Youth Olympic Games Campaign
Eight track and field athletes are in camp in Abuja as Nigeria intensifies preparations for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, with the promising youngsters undergoing intensive training ahead of final selection.
The group comprises sprinters, a quarter-miler, a hurdler and long jumpers, several of whom have already distinguished themselves at continental and global youth competitions.
Leading the women’s contingent is 17-year-old Rosemary Chigozie Nwankwo, who boasts personal bests of 11.34 seconds in the 100m and 23.19 seconds in the 200m, both set this year.
Nwankwo won the 100m gold medal at the African Youth Games in Angola in 11.77 seconds and was part of Nigeria’s quartet that clocked 42.94 seconds to win the 4x100m relay at the African Senior Championships. She also reached the 100m semi-finals at the World U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Sixteen-year-old Faith Ezechukwu, a quarter-miler with a personal best of 53.12 seconds in the 400m, is another athlete expected to strengthen Nigeria’s prospects. She reached the finals of the women’s and mixed 4x400m relays at the World U20 Championships, helping Nigeria record a season’s best of 3:35.28, and won gold in the medley relay at the African Youth Games.
Tejiri Praise Ugoh, also 16, adds further sprinting strength to the women’s team. She holds personal bests of 11.39 seconds in the 100m and 23.28 seconds in the 200m, and won the 200m gold medal at the African Youth Games. At the World U20 Championships, she reached the finals of both the 4x100m and 4x400m relays.
In the jumps, 16-year-old long jumper Chisom Rita Ezeh is part of the youth group being groomed for Dakar after impressing on the MTN CHAMPS circuit.
The men’s contingent includes 17-year-old sprinter Ehuwa Obanlaloluwa Emmanuel, one of the standout under-18 athletes from the national trials, who is being developed in the 100m and 200m events.
Gift Gowon Oghenerunor is another prospect, having won silver in the 400m hurdles and gold in the boys’ medley relay at the African Youth Games. The 17-year-old is noted for his finishing strength and hurdling technique.
At 15, Bright Gift is the youngest member of the group. The Delta State sprinter, who turns 16 in December, has personal bests of 10.63 seconds in the 100m and 22.57 seconds in the 200m. He won the 200m at the National Youth Games for Delta and was selected for international competitions, including the World U20 Championships and the African Region 2 Championships in Senegal.
Completing the group is 17-year-old long jumper Nkemakolam Godswill, whose personal best of 7.18m earned him silver at the African Youth Games behind South Africa’s Jayden Fourie. He has also secured multiple podium finishes at national youth competitions.
The athletes are being supervised in Abuja by Gabriel Okon, technical director in charge of sprints and quarter-milers; Solomon Aliu, who handles hurdles; and Olu Sule, responsible for jumps.
They will continue training while awaiting final selection for Dakar 2026. Under the stated eligibility criteria, athletes must have been born between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2011.
