DAKAR 2026 YOUTH OLYMPICS GAMES

Nigeria’s campaign at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar got a huge boost on Sunday, thanks to some standout performances on the sand and at the table tennis board!

After a tough 2-1 opening loss to Japan, beach volleyball stars Pamela Bawa and Joy Lawrence showed impressive grit. The duo bounced back in style, sweeping Egypt’s Marwa Mamdouh Salem Saleh and Karma Badawy in straight sets (21-19, 21-11). It was a decisive first victory for the pair, keeping their medal hopes very much alive as they look to push deeper into the tournament.

Over on the table tennis side, Matthew Kuti also found his rhythm. After dropping his first game 3-0 to Hong Kong’s Ho Ki Li, the reigning African Youth Cup champion showed why he’s one to watch. Kuti outmatched Tunisia’s Youssef Aidli 3-1, jumping out to an early two-set lead (11-8, 11-8). Though Aidli managed to snag the third set 11-9, Kuti closed out the match with a strong 11-7 finish in the fourth.

He’s now just one win away from a spot in the Round of 16 and will face Italy’s Francesco Travesan in a crucial final group match.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing, however. In the women’s table tennis singles, Nigeria’s Favour Ojo put up a spirited fight against Egypt’s Elbadawy Yara. Ojo snatched the opening set 11-9, but Yara staged a tough comeback to take the next three sets (9-11, 6-11, 9-11), unfortunately ending Ojo’s singles run.

With more events lined up throughout the week in Dakar, Team Nigeria is gearing up for a busy, action-packed stretch!