Africa: Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games - Kenya on Top, Madagascar on Podium, Senegal Looks to Future

What the report says

African women’s rugby emerged as a notable story at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games, where Kenya won the rugby sevens gold medal and Madagascar earned bronze. The competition took place at the Iba Mar Diop complex in Dakar, according to AllAfrica’s report. Kenya defeated Australia 17-12 in the final after extra time, capping a strong run through the tournament and underscoring the progress of young women’s rugby in the country.

Madagascar also had a successful tournament, finishing third after losing only to Kenya in the semifinals. The result was described as a sign of promise for the Malagasy women’s program and a reward for the preparation of its players and coaching staff. The bronze medal gives the team added visibility as it seeks to build on this level of competition.

For host nation Senegal, the tournament was more about experience than results. The team finished last after a loss to Spain and used the Games as its first major international test. The report said many of the players had entered the sport recently through a development initiative supported by World Rugby. Senegal’s staff sees the event as a starting point for longer-term growth, especially for encouraging more young girls to play rugby.

More broadly, the results highlighted the widening reach of women’s rugby in Africa and the importance of training, competition access and youth development in sustaining that progress.