Abuja: The Nigeria Aquatics Federation (NAqF) has unveiled a 15-member junior team set to compete in the 2026 Africa Aquatics Zone 2 Junior Swimming Championship in Dakar, Senegal. The event is scheduled to commence on Friday and will feature young swimmers from 32 countries across the continent.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Nigerian team comprises 11 female and four male swimmers, with the federation aiming to use this competition as a platform to assess and prepare the athletes for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games. The Olympic Games are slated to take place from October 30 to November 12, and the championship in Dakar is expected to offer invaluable international exposure for the Nigerian swimmers.
The selected swimmers include India Brown, Omolola Akinsanmi, Atinuke Alfred-Olajide, Boluwatife Alfred-Olajide, Oluwatofunmi Ibidapo, Aviva Hibbert, and Kristabel Chisa Oldeide, among others. Christopher Ezemegwalu has been appointed as the team’s coach for the championship.
The Nigeria Aquatics Federation emphasized that the Dakar competition is part of a structured program designed to expose junior swimmers to high-level competition and assess their readiness for upcoming international events such as the Youth Olympic Games. Beyond the Zone 2 championship, the federation has planned the ‘Swim to the Future’ competition for September, offering another opportunity for the swimmers to hone their skills.
Additionally, the athletes are set to participate in the National Intermediate Games in October as part of their preparation for the Youth Olympic Games. The federation highlighted that the busy competition schedule would have the athletes competing almost every month from August through October, contributing to their mental development and confidence.
NAqF reiterated its commitment to developing young swimmers through sustained competition, strategic preparation, and increased exposure, setting a robust foundation for future international success.