MBABANE, September 21, 2026 The Eswatini Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (EOCGA) has announced the athletes and officials who will represent the country at the Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal.
EOCGA Secretary General Maxwell Jele, accompanied by board members Pearl Muir Dlamini and Sibusiso Matsenjwa, made the announcement during a press conference where the association also announced a new director for the Olympafrica Centre.
The Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games will be held in Dakar from October 31 to November 13, 2026. 
The Games are expected to attract about 2,700 young athletes from more than 200 National Olympic Committees, with competitors taking part in 25 sporting codes.
Eswatini will compete in three disciplines, namely swimming, athletics and taekwondo.
In swimming, Luca Fraser will represent Eswatini in the 50 metre breaststroke, with Mluleki Simelane serving as coach.
Knowledge Mkhwanazi will compete in the 100 metres in athletics, while Muzi Mabuza will serve as coach.
In taekwondo, Simisile Thwala will compete in the under 55 kilogram category, with Mbongeni Nzibandze as coach.
Zakhele Zulu has been appointed Chef de Mission for Team Eswatini.
The team will travel to Dakar in stages based on the competition schedules of the respective athletes.
EOCGA said the young athletes are expected to represent Eswatini with pride and determination and wished the team a successful final preparation period ahead of the Games.
Dlamini appointed Olympafrica director
EOCGA also announced the appointment of Lerato Dlamini as the new director of the Olympafrica Centre.
Dlamini takes over from Thoba Mazibuko and will be responsible for the day to day management of the centre.
Her duties will include overseeing operations and supporting the implementation of programmes and activities hosted at the facility.
EOCGA welcomed Dlamini to the position and said it looked forward to her contribution towards the continued development and use of the Olympafrica Centre as a hub for sport, youth and community development.
