Maguette Diop wins under-80 kg beach wrestling gold at Dakar 2026

Maguette Diop secured the gold medal in the under-80 kg beach wrestling tournament at the Youth Olympic Games Dakar 2026 on Saturday, November 7, 2026, defeating Azerbaijan’s Suleymanli Nihad in the final. Competing before their home public at Saly, the Senegalese wrestler delivered a prestigious victory that confirmed his status at the top of his category.

The triumph followed shortly after compatriot Elizabeth Diatta captured gold in the under-55 kg event, creating a golden double for the host nation’s delegation in beach wrestling on the same day of competition. Despite the pressure following Diop’s teammate’s earlier sacre, the wrestler rose to the occasion against an opponent who had been presented as the most formidable adversary in the weight class.

Maguette Diop Claims Youth Olympic Gold for Senegal

Facing Suleymanli Nihad, who entered the bout as a top-tier and most formidable opponent, Maguette Diop managed to take the upper hand and dominate the final showdown. The victory crowned him youth Olympic champion and placed him on top of the world in the under-80 kg division. The successful performance added a second youth Olympic gold to Senegal’s tally in the discipline, highlighting a strong overall dynamic for the host country’s fighters on the sand.

Mixed Fortunes for the Senegalese Delegation

While Diop and Diatta celebrated their respective titles on a successful Saturday, the day also brought disappointment for another member of the team. Babacar Mbaye narrowly missed out on securing a bronze medal, falling short in his match against Georgian competitor Davit Mdzevashli (Lesoleil). Nonetheless, the achievements of Diop and Diatta ensured a memorable harvest of medals for the local delegation during the Dakar 2026 events.