Olympics
Behold Samuel Ikpefan, Nigeria’s sole athlete at the 2026 Winter Olympics
When Samuel Ikpefan finally marched into the National Stadium for the Closing Ceremony of the Beijing 2022, it felt like history closing a long, emotional circle.
Nigeria’s first-ever Winter Olympic skiing representative had missed the Opening Ceremony after testing positive for COVID-19. So sharing that final parade with athletes from around the world carried extra weight—for him, and for Africa’s most populous nation.
“Riding the high-speed train with athletes from all nations and sharing that magical moment was unforgettable,” Ikpefan told Olympics.com. He was Nigeria’s lone competitor at the Games, carrying the flag—and expectations—alone.
Ikpefan’s Olympic baptism was anything but smooth. A positive COVID-19 test just days before his first race forced him into isolation—three days confined to his room, followed by two more in a hotel for severe cases.
“I was in perfect health, so it was frightening,” he recalled. Released only two days before the competition, he had no time to acclimatise. He eventually abandoned the 15km classic race after burning too much energy early.
“It was a tough experience, but it taught me mental resilience.”
That resilience now fuels his push toward Milano Cortina 2026, where the 32-year-old France-born skier is determined to make a fuller statement.
“My goal is to compete in all individual cross-country events and give my absolute best—push my limits, maximise my capabilities, and proudly represent Nigeria while learning from the world’s toughest competition.”
Life beyond the Olympic tracks
After Beijing, Ikpefan channelled his energy into growth—both personal and communal. He began coaching and mentoring young skiers, staying close to the sport even as sponsorships and team support dried up.
“The journey hasn’t changed drastically, but the challenges have grown,” he said. “I continue to train with determination and keep my goals in sight.”
For Ikpefan, cross-country skiing is more than medals and results. It is a philosophy.
“It’s physically and mentally demanding. It teaches determination, humility and self-improvement. It connects you with nature and unites athletes from different backgrounds.”
That bond with skiing began early. Growing up near Annemasse in France, he started racing at seven or eight, drawn by the sport’s endurance demands and mental intensity.
Ikpefan’s athletic identity stretches far beyond skis. He swims, cycles, plays football, runs mountain trails and recently returned to tennis. At 15, he finished third in France’s national swimming championships in the 100m backstroke, while also competing in judo and football.
“These experiences shaped my discipline and mindset,” he said.
Off the field, he nurtures a broad curiosity—reading, visiting museums, cooking, playing board games, and exploring geopolitics and business ideas.
Opening doors for Nigeria
Ikpefan sees the Winter Olympics as sport at its purest.
“For two weeks, the magic of our inner child resurfaces. It’s a global celebration of humanity.”
But inspiring young Nigerians to take up skiing is no small task. Infrastructure is scarce, systems are thin, and winter sports remain culturally distant.
“My long-term goal is to make skiing more accessible to Nigerian youth, at home and abroad,” he said. “There are obstacles, but my journey shows that nothing is impossible.”
That belief is reinforced by support from Olympic Solidarity, which currently backs hundreds of athletes worldwide—Ikpefan among them—on the road to Milano Cortina 2026 through monthly training grants.
Being Nigeria’s first Olympic skier is a responsibility Ikpefan carries with pride.
“Representing a country rich in culture and diversity is a responsibility I cherish. It’s a way to honour my ancestors and inspire future generations.”
Medals, he admits, are hard for African athletes in winter sports—but not impossible.
“With the right systems, resources and determination, success is within reach.”
As the countdown to Milano Cortina 2026 gathers pace, Samuel Ikpefan is chasing more than results. He is carving a pathway—on snow and beyond—for Nigerians who may one day follow his tracks into winter’s rarefied world.
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By Kunle Solaja.
Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, the Super Falcons, will begin their campaign for a place at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games from the second round of the African qualifiers after being granted a bye in the opening stage.
The draw, conducted on Wednesday in Cairo by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), placed Nigeria among 29 higher-ranked teams exempted from the first round of the series.
The Super Falcons will take on the winner of the first-round clash between South Sudan and Comoros in their opening fixture of the qualifiers.
A total of 35 nations are competing for just two available slots allocated to Africa for the women’s football tournament at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, underlining the intensity and high stakes of the qualification process.
The qualifiers will be contested over five knockout rounds on a home-and-away basis, leaving little room for error as teams battle for continental representation on the global stage.
The first round involves the six lowest-ranked teams—Sudan, Mauritius, Djibouti, South Sudan, Madagascar and Comoros—based on the latest FIFA Women’s World Rankings. Winners from this stage will advance to face each other again before the 29 seeded teams, including Nigeria, enter the fray.
Nigeria will be aiming to consolidate their status among Africa’s elite women’s football nations, having qualified for the most recent Olympic tournament alongside Zambia at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Although the Super Falcons boast a notable Olympic pedigree, having made their debut at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and subsequently appearing at Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and Paris 2024, qualification has not always been easy.
The 16-year gap between their last two participations in Beijing 2008 and Paris 2024 illustrates the tough time they have endured in the qualifying series.
With the women’s football event at Los Angeles 2028 set to feature 16 teams—including hosts the United States—Nigeria’s path to qualification is expected to be demanding.
Attention will now shift to the preliminary encounter between South Sudan and Comoros, as Nigeria’s technical crew intensify preparations ahead of their second-round entry point.
For the Super Falcons, the mission is clear: successfully navigate a rigorous qualifying campaign and secure a return to the Olympic stage in 2028.
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Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, the Super Falcons, will on Wednesday discover their route to the football event of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles when the Confederation of African Football conducts the official draw in Cairo.
The draw ceremony, scheduled for April 29 at CAF headquarters in Egypt, will set in motion Africa’s qualifying campaign for the women’s football tournament of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
A total of 35 countries, including Nigeria, will participate in the race for just two tickets allocated to Africa for the Olympic football event, which will take place from July 11 to 29, 2028.
Alongside Nigeria, other contenders include continental heavyweights such as South Africa, Cameroon, Ghana, Morocco and Zambia, as well as a wide range of emerging nations from across the continent.
The full list of participating teams also features Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Namibia, Rwanda, Senegal, Seychelles, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
According to CAF, the qualification series will be played over five rounds, gradually narrowing the field to the two teams that will fly Africa’s flag at the Olympics in the United States.
For Nigeria, Africa’s most successful women’s national team, the qualifiers present another opportunity to reaffirm their continental dominance and secure a return to the Olympic stage after recent mixed fortunes in global competitions.
The Super Falcons, nine-time African champions, are expected to be among the top seeds when the draw is conducted, a factor that could influence their early-round opponents.
Wednesday’s ceremony in Cairo will therefore provide clarity on the fixtures, timelines and potential hurdles facing Nigeria and other contenders as the road to Los Angeles officially begins.
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By Kunle Solaja.
Morocco’s senior women’s national team will on Wednesday learn their opponents and qualification pathway to the football event of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games when the Confederation of African Football stages the official draw in Cairo.
The draw, billed for April 29 at CAF headquarters in Egypt, marks the starting point of Africa’s qualifying campaign, with 35 nations set to battle for just two coveted Olympic slots.
For Morocco, the exercise represents another significant step in the country’s rapidly rising profile in women’s football. The Atlas Lionesses, who have emerged as one of Africa’s most improved sides in recent years, will be aiming to secure a historic qualification for the Olympic Games.
The North Africans will face stiff competition from traditional powerhouses such as Nigeria, South Africa, Cameroon and Ghana, alongside other ambitious sides including Zambia and Senegal.
Also in the race are Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Comoros, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
CAF confirmed that the qualifiers will unfold across five rounds, with the field gradually trimmed down until only two teams remain to represent Africa at the Olympics in the United States from July 11 to 29, 2028.
Morocco are expected to be among the seeded teams for the early rounds, a reflection of their recent performances on the continental stage, including their strong showing at recent Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
Wednesday’s draw in Cairo will therefore be crucial in determining Morocco’s early matchups and the potential obstacles on their path, as they seek to translate recent progress into a maiden appearance at the Olympic Games.
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