Team Nigeria rocked day 2 of the 4th African Youth Games, grabbing silver in badminton’s team event after a nail-biter against Algeria. The country’s athletes also put up solid performances across various sports, showcasing their skills and grit.
The Nigerian side pushed their opponents to the wire, but Algeria narrowly emerged victorious with a 2–1 win. The contest opened with Algeria taking the first match 45–41, before Nigeria responded strongly to claim the second match 45–43. With the tie level at 1–1, the decider proved intense, but Algeria once again edged ahead 45–43 to seal the overall 2–1 victory and the gold medal.
Nigeria’s resilience and tactical discipline earned them a commendable silver.
Team Nigeria will return to action on Friday in golf, where Josephine Clement Benjamin and Destiny Oyero begin their Round 1 campaign. Both golfers will be aiming to set a strong tone as they jostle with competitors from across the continent.
Swimming events also commence on Friday at the Piscina do Alvalade pool in Angola.
Nigeria will feature in the opening-day races, with Akinsanmi Omolola competing in the girls’ 100m freestyle, while Aidan Dumuje-Abili represents the country in the boys’ 100m freestyle. Preliminary heats begin at 9 a.m., with the finals scheduled for 6 p.m.
In table tennis, Nigeria recorded outstanding victories in the singles Round of 16. The girls’ team swept Kenya 3–0, while in the boys’ category, Nigeria also defeated Angola 3–0. In the team events, the Nigerian boys outclassed Algeria 4–1 in a best-of-seven contest, showcasing superior form and consistency.
The girls’ team put up a strong performance but fell 2–4 to Algeria in their own best-of-seven matchup.
