Young Burkinabè athletes delivered exceptional performances at the 2026 U18 and U20 Five Nations Championships, held from July 25 to 26 in Ouagadougou. Securing a remarkable 67 medals in total, Burkina Faso claimed the top spot, outpacing competitors Bénin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo.
Among the brightest stars of the championships was Zalissa Zongo, who garnered an impressive six gold medals, including setting a new national record in the triple jump. Reflecting on her achievement, Zongo expressed her satisfaction: “I am incredibly pleased because I surpassed my previous record. My old mark was 13.12 meters, and I achieved 13.33 meters. However, for me, this is just a step, as my ultimate dream is to reach 14.01 meters.” Zongo has her sights set on future international competitions, specifically the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar and the Junior World Championships in Eugene.
The young Burkinabè contingent secured the top position in the overall standings with a total of 67 medals, comprising 27 gold, 30 silver, and 10 bronze. This outstanding performance allowed the host nation to significantly outperform the four other participating countries. Bénin finished in second place with 29 medals, followed by Côte d’Ivoire with 14 medals, Togo with 21 medals, and Ghana with 12 medals. Across all events, a grand total of 143 medals were awarded.
U18 athletes set the pace
Missiri Sawadogo, the Technical Director of the Burkina Faso Athletics Federation, expressed immense satisfaction with the results. “This is a source of great pride for the federation because we witnessed more than a dozen national records being shattered. Furthermore, we had exceptional athletes like Zalissa Zongo, who claimed nearly six medals. Young Allan also notably improved his personal record by 4 cm, reaching 16.09 meters,” Sawadogo remarked. He views this Five Nations competition as a vital stepping stone for the region’s promising young athletes.
In the Under-18 (U18) category, Burkinabè athletes secured 39 medals, consisting of 17 gold, 17 silver, and 5 bronze. Female athletes contributed significantly with 20 medals, while their male counterparts earned 19. These impressive early results firmly positioned Burkina Faso at the forefront of this age group.
U20 athletes solidify dominance
The U20 athletes continued this strong momentum, adding another 28 medals to the tally, comprising 10 gold, 13 silver, and 5 bronze. The boys’ team secured 16 medals, and the girls’ team achieved 12, allowing Burkina Faso to comfortably maintain its leading position in the overall standings. Français Vokouma, President of the Burkina Faso Athletics Federation, also commended these remarkable achievements by the nation’s athletes.
This impressive medal haul clearly demonstrates the vibrant future of Burkinabè athletics. The exceptional performances across various disciplines—including track events, jumps, throws, and relays—instill great optimism for upcoming regional and African competitions, particularly the Youth Olympic Games and the Junior World Athletics Championships.
