Team Nigeria have endured a mixed start to the table tennis competition at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, with Favour Ojo eliminated from the women’s singles event while Matthew Kuti remains in contention for a place in the knockout stage.

Ojo’s campaign ended after she suffered defeats in both of her opening group matches, losing 3-1 to Hanka Kodet of Czechia before falling by the same scoreline to Egypt‘s Yara Elbadawy.

Her disappointment continued in the mixed doubles event, where she partnered Kuti but failed to advance beyond the round of 16.

The Nigerian pair lost 3-1 to their Thai opponents, bringing their campaign in the event to an end.

Kuti keeps Team Nigeria in contention

While Ojo has exited the competition, Kuti remains in the hunt for qualification after recording one victory and one defeat in his opening two group matches.

The Nigerian began his campaign with a 3-0 defeat to Hong Kong’s Li Ki Ho, who dominated their encounter.

However, Kuti responded in his next match with a 3-1 victory over Tunisia‘s Youssef Aidli to register his first win of the competition.

The 18-year-old took control early, winning the opening two games 11-8 and 11-8. Aidli fought back to claim the third game 11-9, but Kuti regained his composure to close out the contest with an 11-7 victory in the fourth.

The result kept his hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive ahead of his final group fixture.

Trevisan test awaits Kuti

Kuti will face Italy’s Francesco Trevisan in his final group match, with qualification for the knockout rounds at stake.

Only the top two players in the group will advance, leaving the Nigerian with little room for error as he seeks to secure his place in the next stage.

His victory over Aidli offers encouragement ahead of the decisive encounter, although he will need another strong performance to progress.

Beach volleyball pair bounce back

Elsewhere, Nigeria‘s women’s beach volleyball duo of Pamela Bawa and Joy Lawrence responded to their opening defeat with a 2-0 victory over Egypt on Sunday.

The win provided a timely boost for Team Nigeria as the country’s athletes continued their respective campaigns in Senegal.

The post Dakar 2026: Kuti keeps Nigeria’s table tennis hopes alive after Ojo’s exit appeared first on Made In Africa Sport.

Joanita Borteye has been appointed deputy captain of Team Ghana for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, following her impressive performances in youth table tennis.

The 2026 Africa Youth Championships gold medallist will support the Ghanaian contingent at the multi-sport event, scheduled to take place from October 31 to November 13.

In a statement issued on Monday, October 26, the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) confirmed Borteye’s appointment, alongside the selection of beach volleyball player Daniel Lartey as team captain and badminton player Obapomba Adu-Mintah as flag bearer.

Borteye earns leadership role after continental success

Borteye secured the deputy captaincy after recording notable results in recent competitions, including winning the Under-15 mixed doubles title at the 2026 ITTF-Africa Youth Championships in Accra.

She also recently competed at the ITTF Africa Championships in Tangier, Morocco, gaining further international experience ahead of the Youth Olympic Games.

Her appointment reflects the confidence placed in her ability to contribute beyond competition by supporting her teammates and promoting unity within the Ghanaian delegation.

Adu-Mintah named flag bearer

Badminton player Obapomba Adu-Mintah has been selected to carry Ghana’s national flag at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Games.

He will represent the country during the ceremonies marking the beginning and conclusion of the competition.

Meanwhile, beach volleyball player Daniel Lartey will lead the delegation as captain, with Borteye serving as his deputy.

The three athletes will take on key leadership responsibilities as Ghana’s young competitors prepare to represent their country on the international stage.

Ghana to compete in eight sports

According to the GOC, Ghana will participate in eight sporting disciplines: athletics, badminton, beach volleyball, boxing, judo, swimming, table tennis and taekwondo.

The country has selected 13 athletes for the competition, with the delegation comprising competitors aged between 13 and 17 who qualified through their respective international sporting pathways.

The Games will provide the athletes with an opportunity to compete against international opposition, gain valuable experience and contribute to the development of Ghanaian sport.

Dakar 2026 to make African sporting history

The 2026 Youth Olympic Games will mark a historic milestone, with Dakar becoming the first African city to host the event.

Scheduled for October 31 to November 13, the fourth edition of the Summer Youth Olympic Games is expected to attract approximately 2,700 athletes from more than 200 National Olympic Committees.

The programme will feature 25 sports, alongside 10 engagement sports designed to encourage participation and introduce young people to different sporting activities.

Ghana targets another Youth Olympic success

Ghana has participated in all three previous editions of the Youth Olympic Games, held in Singapore in 2010, Nanjing in 2014 and Buenos Aires in 2018.

The country’s most notable achievement came at the 2014 Games in Nanjing, China, where Martha Bissah won gold in the women’s 800 metres to become Ghana’s first Youth Olympic champion.

As the country prepares for Dakar 2026, the delegation will seek to build on that achievement while upholding the Olympic values of excellence, friendship and respect.

With Borteye, Adu-Mintah and Lartey taking on key leadership roles, Team Ghana will look to combine individual performances with collective effort as its young athletes prepare to compete at the historic African edition of the Games.

The post Joanita Borteye named Team Ghana deputy captain for Dakar 2026 appeared first on Made In Africa Sport.

Nigeria will be represented by 19 athletes across six sports at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, as the country prepares for the historic competition, which begins on October 31.

Athletics prospect Rosemary Nwankwo and table tennis player Matthew Kuti are among the young talents expected to spearhead Nigeria‘s campaign at the Games, which will mark the first time an Olympic event is hosted on African soil.

Athletics leads Nigeria’s representation

The Nigerian contingent comprises male and female athletes competing in athletics, boxing, road cycling, swimming, table tennis and beach volleyball.

Athletics accounts for the largest share of the team, with nine athletes selected: Treasure Omosiwe, Rosemary Nwankwo, Rita Chisom Ezeh, Faith Ezechukwu, Praise Ugoh, Gift Bright, Gift Oghenerunor, Obanla Ehuwa and Godswill Nkemakolam.

They will compete in events including the 100 metres, 100m hurdles, 400m, 400m hurdles, shot put, high jump and javelin, giving Nigeria representation across track and field disciplines.

Kuti headlines table tennis team

Favour Ojo and Matthew Kuti will represent Nigeria in table tennis, competing in the singles and mixed doubles events.

Kuti, one of the country’s promising young table tennis players, will be seeking to make an impression on the international stage, while both athletes will have the opportunity to test their skills against some of the world’s best young players.

Nigeria’s other representatives include Shukurat Mayowa in the women’s 48kg boxing category and Ringnan Danjuma in the women’s road race and individual time trial in cycling.

Four swimmers, two beach volleyball players selected

Swimming will feature four Nigerian athletes: Akinsanmi Omolola, Kristabel Chisa Oldeide, Aidan Dumuje-Abili and Kashope Obatoyinbo.

Meanwhile, Pamela Bawa and Joy Lawrence will represent Nigeria in women’s beach volleyball, completing the country’s participation across the six sports.

The spread of athletes across the disciplines reflects Nigeria’s efforts to provide emerging talents with international exposure beyond its traditional sporting strengths.

Team Nigeria concludes preparations

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has overseen preparations for the Games, with the athletes participating in a 21-day local camping programme that began on October 9.

The programme included medical screening, anti-doping education, technical and tactical training, kit fitting, travel documentation and other preparations ahead of the team’s departure for Senegal.

According to the NSC’s schedule, Team Nigeria is expected to depart Abuja on October 29, ahead of the opening ceremony at the Diamniadio Olympic Stadium on October 31.

Table tennis and beach volleyball competitions are scheduled to begin on the opening day, while swimming starts on November 1. Boxing will run from November 7 to 12, with athletics and road cycling events scheduled between November 8 and 10.

Dakar 2026 makes Olympic history

The fourth Summer Youth Olympic Games will run from October 31 to November 13, with events taking place across Dakar, Diamniadio and Saly in Senegal.

The competition is expected to bring together approximately 2,700 young athletes from around the world, competing in 25 sports, alongside a programme featuring 10 additional engagement sports.

Beyond the pursuit of medals, the Youth Olympic Games offer developing athletes an opportunity to gain international experience, measure themselves against global competition and prepare for future senior-level events.

Dakar 2026 represents an opportunity for the next generation of sporting talents to showcase their abilities while participating in a historic edition of the Olympic movement on African soil.

The post Nwankwo, Kuti lead 19 Nigerian athletes to Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games appeared first on Made In Africa Sport.