Nigeria’s Shukurat Mayowa has received a bye to the quarter-finals of the women’s 48kg boxing event at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, where she will face the winner of Sunday’s preliminary bout between Algeria’s Bouthaina Bensalah and Thailand’s Pemika Payungkasem.
The 17-year-old is Nigeria’s only representative in boxing and will begin her campaign on Tuesday, 10 November, at Dakar Expo Centre, DEX Pavillon C.
Bensalah and Payungkasem are scheduled to meet in Bout 17 on Sunday afternoon, with the winner advancing to face Mayowa in the quarter-finals.
A victory would take the Nigerian into the semi-finals on Wednesday, 11 November, while the final is scheduled for Thursday, 12 November.
The boxing competition begins on Saturday, 7 November, but Mayowa will not enter the ring until the quarter-final stage.
Her participation comes as Nigeria continues its search for a first medal at the Games in Senegal.
With beach volleyball, table tennis and swimming completed, Nigeria’s remaining events are boxing, cycling and athletics.
Cycling and athletics begin on Sunday, 8 November, with Nigeria represented in the women’s individual time trial and nine athletics events respectively.
Ringnan Danjuma will compete in the women’s individual time trial on Sunday. The 17-year-old is Nigeria’s sole representative in the cycling event.
Athletics, which has been one of Nigeria’s strongest medal-producing sports at previous Youth Olympic Games, will feature nine Nigerian athletes across track and field events.
Gift Bright will compete in the men’s 100m, while Obanla Ehuwa is entered in the men’s high jump. Faith Ezechukwu and Rita Chisom Ezeh will represent Nigeria in the women’s 400m and 400m hurdles respectively.
Godswill Nkemakolam will compete in the men’s javelin, while Rosemary Nwankwo and Treasure Omosivwe are entered in the women’s 100m and 100m hurdles.
Gift Oghenerunor will contest the men’s 400m hurdles, while Praise Ugoh completes the team in the women’s shot put.
The athletics competition runs from 8 to 10 November, giving Nigeria three days to pursue medals across the track and field programme.
With boxing, cycling and athletics left on schedule, Nigeria will look to finish its Dakar 2026 campaign with a place on the podium.
