Nigeria has made history at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, winning gold in both the girls' and boys' 100 metres.

The races

Rosemary Chigozie Nwankwo, a 17-year-old secondary school student, won the girls' 100m final in a wind-assisted 11.16 seconds, according to reports on Tuesday, 10 November 2026. Arwa Ali of the United Arab Emirates took silver in 11.41 seconds and Dana Salem of Qatar won bronze in 11.48. Nwankwo had reached the final by winning her semi-final in 11.53 seconds. Her compatriot Gift Bright then won the boys' 100m in a personal best of 10.28 seconds.

A first

The double makes Nigeria the first country to win both 100m titles at the same edition of the Youth Olympic Games. Nwankwo's win was also Nigeria's first gold medal of the Dakar Games, and she becomes the third Nigerian woman to win the event, after Josephine Omaka in Singapore in 2010 and Rosemary Chukwuma in Buenos Aires in 2018.

Background

The Dakar Games are the first Olympic event ever held in Africa. The sprint golds come days after Nigeria's Flamingos won the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in Morocco, adding to a remarkable run for Nigerian youth sport.

Former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger is reportedly considering a bid to challenge Gianni Infantino in the upcoming FIFA presidential election.

What is reported

According to reports on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, key football figures, including leaders within European governing body UEFA, have been lobbying the 77-year-old Frenchman to stand before the nomination deadline of 18 November, and a decision is expected this week. European officials are said to have grown disillusioned with Infantino after controversies over FIFA's commercial plans.

Background

Wenger managed Arsenal for 22 years, winning three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups, and has been FIFA's chief of global football development since November 2019. Infantino has led FIFA since 2016 and has overseen the expansion of the World Cup to 48 teams.

Nigeria's Flamingos have received a $50,000 cash reward after winning the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup, but the team will not receive any official prize money from FIFA.

The reward

The gift was presented by Alhaji Saleh Ahmadu, a sponsor of the National Sports Commission (NSC), at a reception held in the team's honour in Rabat, Morocco, on Saturday night, 7 November 2026, according to reports. The event was hosted by NSC chairman Shehu Dikko and director-general Bukola Olopade, and was also attended by the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi. The sponsor said the gift recognised the players' outstanding performance, commitment and determination.

No FIFA prize money

FIFA classifies the U-17 Women's World Cup as a developmental tournament and does not attach official prize money to it, unlike the senior World Cups. That means the champions receive the trophy and medals but no payment from world football's governing body.

How the final was won

The Flamingos beat Japan 2-1 in the final on Saturday. Awawu Bashiru opened the scoring when her looping effort slipped through the hands of Japan's goalkeeper, and Oluebube Umejiaku doubled the lead with a lob after a through ball from Esther Stephen. Japan's Fuki Ito pulled one back with ten minutes left, but Nigeria held on to become the first African winners of the tournament.

Abia State governor Alex Otti has warned against political violence and intimidation ahead of the 2027 elections.

What he said

Speaking to supporters on Monday, 9 November 2026, Otti said no person or group had his mandate to attack opposition parties or stop their members from campaigning. He directed security agencies to arrest and deal decisively with anyone who tries to disrupt lawful political activities in the state, regardless of party, including members of his own Labour Party.

Background

Concerns about political violence have grown as campaigns intensify. In the past week, one person died and five were injured in a clash at an NDC rally in Asaba, Delta State, and supporters of different parties have been attacked in other states. INEC has also condemned inflammatory slogans and warned of plots against election workers. Otti, a former banker, won the Abia governorship on the Labour Party platform in 2023, when Peter Obi was the party's presidential candidate. Obi has since moved to the NDC.