Sports
Dakar 2026: Nigeria Dazzles with Colourful Pomp and Pageantry at Youth Olympic Games Opening Ceremony
Joel Ajayi
Team Nigeria joined the colourful spectacle and pageantry of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games opening ceremony on Saturday, as the historic global sporting event officially got underway in Dakar, Senegal with a vibrant celebration of African culture, unity and sporting excellence.
Led by athletics sensation Rosemary Chigozie Nwankwo, who served as Nigeria’s flagbearer, the Nigerian contingent proudly marched into the packed Abdoulaye Wade Stadium at Diamniadio, showcasing the country’s colours before thousands of spectators and a global audience.
The opening ceremony marked a historic moment for Africa, with Senegal becoming the first African country to host an Olympic sporting event, as young athletes from across the world gathered for the fourth edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games.
Nwankwo, one of Nigeria’s brightest medal prospects at the Games, carried the national flag with pride, symbolising the aspirations of the country’s 19 athletes competing across six sports.
The young sprinter is expected to be among Nigeria’s leading contenders in athletics, particularly in the women’s 100m, where she will be looking to translate her impressive potential into a podium finish.
The ceremony was a spectacular display of Senegalese culture and hospitality, with music, dance, colourful performances and elaborate choreography setting the tone for 13 days of competition across Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly.
One of the defining moments of the evening came with the arrival of the Youth Olympic flame at the stadium, following an extraordinary journey through Senegal’s 14 administrative regions over more than 45 days.
The flame was carried around the stadium before the lighting of the official cauldron, formally ushering in the Games and symbolising the spirit of friendship, peace and unity that underpins the Olympic movement.
The packed stadium at Diamniadio provided a fitting backdrop for the historic occasion, as Nigeria dazzled in their colourful green and white attires.
Nigeria will compete in athletics, boxing, road cycling, swimming, table tennis and beach volleyball. The contingent comprises 19 athletes, including 12 women and seven men,
Sports
CityRoxx Targets Sustainable Table Tennis Ecosystem for Nigerian Players
By Joel Ajayi
The Chief Executive Officer and founder of CityRoxx Table Tennis, Giwa Lukman, says his organisation is committed to building a sustainable ecosystem that will provide Nigerian table tennis players with opportunities for talent discovery, development, exposure and career progression.
Lukman made this known during the opening ceremony of the maiden CityRoxx City Smash Open Table Tennis Championship in Abuja, where he outlined his vision of creating a connected sporting community that supports players beyond competitions.
The six-day championship, holding at the Mo Arena Basketball Court in the Federal Capital Territory, has attracted more than 200 players from 33 clubs and over 27 states across the country.
According to Lukman, CityRoxx is not merely interested in organising tournaments but seeks to establish a structure that will support players at every stage of their sporting careers.
“We understand that the future of table tennis cannot depend on competitions alone. We need a structure that supports players before, during and after competitions.
“We want a system where a young player can be discovered, trained, registered, tracked and given opportunities to grow.
“We want players to have proper profiles, competition records and rankings. We want clubs to have a stronger network, while coaches, schools, sponsors and organisers become part of one connected sporting community,” he said.
He said that CityRoxx was developing a digital platform through its website, www.cityroxtabletennis.com, which would serve as a central hub for players, clubs and other stakeholders.
He explained that the platform would enable players to register, build their profiles, follow competitions, access rankings and remain connected to opportunities within the sport.
Lukman added that the organisation was also committed to expanding table tennis through school programmes, grassroots development, tournaments, media engagement and strategic partnerships.
He emphasised the importance of giving Nigerian players greater visibility, noting that their performances and achievements deserved wider recognition.
The CityRoxx founder also called on corporate organisations and private investors to support the development of table tennis, stressing that sponsorship should go beyond branding and become an investment in a growing sporting ecosystem.
He expressed appreciation to the championship sponsors, Kingfem and FCMB, for believing in the vision and supporting the maiden edition.
According to him, their commitment demonstrates the importance of private-sector participation in sports development.
Lukman further encouraged participating athletes to embrace discipline, respect their opponents and officials, and demonstrate good sportsmanship throughout the competition.
He described the championship as an important milestone for Nigerian table tennis, adding that the vision was to build stronger competitions, expand school programmes, strengthen club networks and establish a functional ranking system.
Declaring the championship open on behalf of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF) the Vice President, Hon. Salisu Malantariki, represented by Adamu Usman Ahmed, commended the organisers for their initiative and commitment to the growth of table tennis in Nigeria
Ahmed said the future of Nigerian table tennis depended on collective commitment to grassroots development, improved infrastructure, stronger clubs and regular competitive opportunities.
He urged government institutions, corporate organisations, private investors and sporting communities to support initiatives capable of discovering and nurturing young talents.
The opening ceremony also featured exhibition matches, with Abdulmalik Taofeek defeating his father, Hamzat Taofeek, 2-1 in an entertaining father-and-son encounter.
In the women’s exhibition match, one of Nigeria’s leading players, Ajoke Ojomu, defeated Aminat Sani 2-0.
Lukman expressed optimism that the maiden championship would mark the beginning of a bigger initiative capable of transforming the table tennis landscape and creating lasting opportunities for the next generation of Nigerian players.
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