Eight young Gambians, one historic mission: Team Gambia set sight on Dakar 2026
By Muhammed L. Saidykhan
Banjul, The Gambia, September 12, 2026 — For eight young Gambian athletes, Dakar 2026 will be more than another international competition. It will be an opportunity to write their names into a new chapter of African Olympic history.
The Gambia National Olympic Committee has confirmed eight athletes across five sports who will represent the country at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, scheduled to take place in neighbouring Senegal.
For the first time, the Olympic movement will come to Africa, placing the continent’s young athletes at the centre of a historic global sporting occasion.
For Team Gambia, that history will be carried by eight young athletes competing in beach volleyball, athletics, judo, swimming and boxing.
The Gambian delegation will feature Fatima Sanneh and Kaddy Saidy in beach volleyball; Haddy Jarju and Mustapha Jadama in athletics; Alima Jaw Jobe in judo; Sheikh Omar Ndongo and Fatou D. Sabally in swimming; and Alieu Sanyang in boxing.
Behind every name is a young athlete with a different story, different ambitions and a different route into sport.
Yet they share one dream: to put on the Gambian colours and compete on the biggest stage of their young careers.
“Dakar 2026 is a historic opportunity not only for these eight young athletes, but for Gambian sport as a whole. We want our young athletes to compete with confidence, learn from the experience and understand that representing The Gambia at this level is both an honour and a responsibility. We are committed to supporting them throughout their journey, says GNOC president Bai Dodou Jallow.
And as the Road to Dakar gathers momentum, the nation will be watching, supporting and hoping that these young athletes can turn their Olympic dreams into memories that last a lifetime.
