Young athletes from Burkina Faso delivered outstanding performances at the U18 and U20 Five Nations Athletics Championships held in Ouagadougou on July 25–26, 2026. The team secured a commanding first-place finish with a total of 67 medals, surpassing Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo.
Zalissa Zongo stood out as one of the standout performers, collecting 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—today, I jumped 13.33 meters,” she shared. “That’s just the beginning; my next goal is 14.01 meters.”
The Burkina Faso team dominated the overall standings with 27 gold, 30 silver, and 10 bronze medals. Benin followed in second place 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 way
In the U18 category, Burkina Faso athletes shone brightly, securing 39 medals—17 gold, 17 silver, and 5 bronze. Female athletes contributed 20 medals, while male athletes earned 19, solidifying the country’s lead in this division.
“This is a tremendous achievement for Burkinabè athletics,” said Missiri Sawadogo, Technical Director of the Burkina Faso Athletics Federation. “We shattered over a dozen national records, and athletes like Zalissa Zongo and young Allan, who improved his personal best by 4 centimeters to 16.09 meters, exemplify the rising talent in our sport.”
U20 athletes maintain momentum
The U20 athletes continued the winning trend, adding 28 more medals—10 gold, 13 silver, and 5 bronze. Male athletes claimed 16 medals, while female athletes earned 12, reinforcing Burkina Faso’s dominance in the overall rankings. French Vokouma, President of the Burkina Faso Athletics Federation, praised the team’s impressive display.
This remarkable medal haul underscores the strength of Burkina Faso’s next generation of athletes. Their success in sprints, jumps, throws, and relays signals promising prospects for upcoming regional and continental competitions, including the Youth Olympic Games and World Junior Athletics Championships.