The young athletes from Burkina Faso have performed exceptionally well in the U18 and U20 Championships of Five Nations, held on July 25-26, 2026, in Ouagadougou. With a total of 67 medals, including 27 gold, 30 silver, and 10 bronze, Burkina Faso took the top spot ahead of Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Togo.
Zalissa Zongo was one of the standout athletes, winning nearly six medals in gold, including a national record in the triple jump." I am very happy because I broke my own record. I had 13.12. ", Zalissa exclaimed. "I made 13.33. But for me, it’s nothing because I dream of getting to 14.01", she added.
Zalissa Zongo hopes to make a splash at the Youth Olympics in Dakar and the Junior World Championships in Eugene.
The young athletes from Burkina Faso won a total of 39 medals in the U18 category, including 17 gold, 17 silver, and 5 bronze. The girls took home 20 medals, while the boys secured 19. This achievement placed Burkina Faso at the top of this age group.
The U20 Team Confirms Dominance
The U20 athletes continued their winning streak, adding 28 medals to their collection, including 10 gold, 13 silver, and 5 bronze. The boys secured 16 medals, while the girls took home 12. This solidified Burkina Faso’s position at the top of the overall standings.
The President of the Burkinabé Athletics Federation praised these performances, saying that they demonstrate a strong foundation for the future of athletics in the country.
Read also: Burkina Faso Hosts 4th Edition of U18 and U20 Championships of Five Nations on July 25-26, 2026
This impressive collection of medals offers hope for the future of Burkinabé athletics. The performances in track, field events, jumping, throwing, and relays demonstrate a promising foundation for regional and African competitions, including the Youth Olympics and Junior World Championships.