Burkina Faso’s junior athletes delivered outstanding performances at the 2026 U18 and U20 Five Nations Championships, held in Ouagadougou from July 25 to 26. The team secured a commanding lead with 67 medals, outpacing Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo.
Zalissa Zongo stood out as one of the brightest stars of the competition, clinching nearly six gold medals, including a national record in the triple jump. “I’m thrilled to have broken my own record—my previous best was 13.12 meters, and now I’ve reached 13.33. But this is just the beginning; my goal is 14.01 meters,” she shared. Her sights are set on the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar and the World Junior Championships in Eugene.
The Burkinabè team dominated the overall standings with 67 medals—27 gold, 30 silver, and 10 bronze—securing first place ahead of the four competing nations. Benin followed with 29 medals, trailed by Côte d’Ivoire (14), Togo (21), and Ghana (12). A total of 143 medals were awarded across all events.
U18 category leads the charge
The U18 athletes set the tone, contributing 39 medals—17 gold, 17 silver, and 5 bronze. Female competitors earned 20 medals, while male athletes brought home 19. Missiri Sawadogo, Burkina Faso’s technical director, highlighted the significance of these achievements. “We’re incredibly proud—our athletes shattered over ten national records. Zalissa Zongo’s dominance was remarkable, and young talents like Allan improved their personal bests by four centimeters.”
U20 athletes sustain momentum
The U20 squad continued the winning streak, adding 28 more medals—10 gold, 13 silver, and 5 bronze. Male athletes contributed 16 medals, while female competitors added 12, reinforcing Burkina Faso’s top position. French Vokouma, president of the Burkinabè Athletics Federation, commended the team’s progress.
This medal haul underscores Burkina Faso’s deep talent pool in track and field. From sprints to jumps, throws, and relays, the results signal strong prospects for upcoming regional and continental competitions, including the Youth Olympic Games and the World Junior Athletics Championships.
