Dakar Youth Olympics: Mayowa Gets Quarter-Final Bye As Nigeria Step Up Medal Hunt
By Saheed Afolabi
Nigeria’s Shukurat Mayowa has been handed a bye to the quarter-finals of the women’s 48kg boxing event at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, giving the teenager a direct passage into the last eight as she prepares to begin her quest for a medal.
The 17-year-old will face either Algeria’s Bouthaina Bensalah or Thailand’s Pemika Payungkasem, who are scheduled to meet in a preliminary bout on Sunday.
The quarter-final contest is scheduled for Tuesday, November 10, at the Dakar Expo Centre, DEX Pavillon C, with victory taking Mayowa into the semi-finals on Wednesday, November 11. The final will hold on Thursday, November 12.
Mayowa is Nigeria’s only representative in the boxing competition, which commenced on Saturday, November 7. Her first appearance will therefore come at the quarter-final stage.
Meanwhile, Nigeria will be looking to revive its medal campaign through athletics and cycling as the two sports get underway on Sunday, November 8.
The country is yet to secure a medal in Senegal, having concluded its participation in beach volleyball, table tennis and swimming. Athletics, in particular, offers Nigeria another opportunity to get on the medal table, with nine athletes entered across different events.
Gift Bright will compete in the men’s 100m, while Obanla Ehuwa will represent the country in the men’s high jump.
Faith Ezechukwu and Rita Chisom Ezeh will feature in the women’s 400m and 400m hurdles respectively, while Godswill Nkemakolam is entered in the men’s javelin.
Rosemary Nwankwo will compete in the women’s 100m, with Treasure Omosivwe taking part in the women’s 100m hurdles. Gift Oghenerunor will contest the men’s 400m hurdles, while Praise Ugoh completes Nigeria’s athletics contingent in the women’s shot put.
The athletics competition runs from November 8 to 10, with Nigerian athletes expected to compete across three days of track and field action.
In cycling, Ringnan Danjuma will be Nigeria’s sole representative in the women’s individual time trial on Sunday. The 17-year-old will be aiming to make an impression in the event as the country seeks its first medal of the competition.
With boxing, athletics and cycling representing Nigeria’s remaining opportunities, the contingent faces a crucial final stretch at the Games, with hopes of securing a podium finish before the conclusion of the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
