Talents to be supervised and promoted, competitions for young people, the first edition of the national sports games held all its promises in Bobo-Dioulasso. Started on August 24, the last final, especially in football, was played on Saturday September 2, 2023 at the Wobi stadium. And it is EFORS des Cascades who wins in front of Sacraboutou FC during the penalty shootout, 4-3.
The first edition of the sports succession games brought together more than 2,000 young people from the 13 regions of Burkina Faso in Bobo-Dioulasso. For about ten days, these young people competed in 7 disciplines namely: football, basketball, handball, volleyball, athletics, wrestling and cycling. In wrestling, the competitions were held in teams and individually. Overall and by team, the Nayala is doing well, as are the Sourou and the EFORS (training school for the next generation of athletes). In individual Blandine Bonane du Nayala wins in the girls of -33 kg, and in the boys of this same category it is Donatien Nama of EFORS A who is champion. In the -35kg girls, Lorina Ky EFORS I, is the gold medalist, while in the boys it is Yacouba Toé du Sourou who wins. At the -43kg level Marceline Toé du Sourou is the queen of the arena and for the men it is Moustapha Zango du Boulkiemdé. In the -45kg category, Aristide Dié du Nayala is the champion, and for girls, Faridatou Sawadogo EFORS is the big winner. And in -50kg the gold medal in men went to Moussa Zongo from Kadiogo and in girls, to Béatrice Kiemdé from Boulkiemdé.
In athletics, we can note the performances of Zalissa Zongo (girls) and Rachid Sanou (boys) from Hauts-Bassins, gold medalists in the 80m. In triple jump, we remember the jumps of Grace Sanou (girls) and Alain Sawadogo from the Center. In length, it was Aicha Nabaloum (girls) from the North and Arsène Seni (boys) from the Center who distinguished themselves. The shot put performances of Mamounata Dieni (girls) from the Center and Ouédraogo Ibrahim (boys) were remarkable. In the 2000m, Ariane Yigo (girls) Center and Harouna Sawadogo from Hauts-Bassins won the gold medals. The Center team for girls and the Hauts-Bassins team won gold medals in the 4x80m.
The RCB-EFORS Center handball final kept all its promises
The handball final of these first national youth sports games between the RCB and EFORS Center was thrilling. The two teams remained neck and neck until the last second of the match. And yet EFORS Center had the advantage in the score in the first period (10-05). The young people of Diaradougou de Bobo came back to the mark in the second half. And this is the start of the mano-mano in the score (15-15, 16-16, 17-17, 18-18, 19-19). And in the final minutes of the game, the RCB will be the first team to score the 20th aim. In the crowd EFORS Center will get a penalty to return to the mark. This shot is stopped by the goalkeeper of the Blacks and Whites of Diaradougou. For the RCB coach, Karzoum Zagré, this final was played on the mind. He is delighted with the holding of this competition which gives more experience to young people. As for the EFORS Center coach’s assistant, Alexis Ouédraogo, it was physically that his youngsters did not last and they lacked lucidity in the last gesture.
AS Douanes wins the basketball competition
EFORS Hauts-Bassins-AS Douane was the poster for the basketball final of these national games for young athletes. The start of this final was more or less balanced with a parity score in the first quarter (3-3). In the second quarter, the girls from AS Douanes began to show more skill. They end the quarter in the lead (8-15). In the third quarter time, EFORS Hauts-Bassins will manage to counter the attacks of the young Gabelous, but will sin by clumsiness. She will only have one point more while the young Gabelous will remain at 15 points. In the last quarter, EFORS Hauts-Bassins will have three more points and AS Douanes 4. The young Gabelous therefore win this final with a score of 19-12. For the coach of AS Douanes, Hervé Yaméogo, they only had a few days to prepare the attack and the defense. And this competition is welcome. It gives more visibility to small categories.
Planète Sport and EFORS Cascades dominate volleyball
In volleyball on behalf of this 1time edition of the national sports games, EFORS Cascades for the boys and Planète Sport for the girls dominated the competition. EFORS Cascades won 5 matches, totaling 279 points, ie 10 sets won and one lost. They are ahead of Zoom club with three wins, 2 losses, i.e. 7 sets won, 5 lost with 241 points. In third place, we find EFORS du Centre-Nord with 4 matches won, 11 points, or 8 wins, 3 losses, 208 points. In girls Planète Sport ranks first. She won these 5 matches either 15 points or 10 sets won, 1 lost, 263 points won. In second position, we find ASCA who won 3 matches and lost 2 for 9 points or 6 sets won, 4 lost, 204 points. ASE comes in third position with 2 matches won, 3 lost 6 points, 8 sets won and 4 lost.
EFORS Centre-Est and Vélo club de Koudougou stand out in cycling
The cycling competition within the framework of these national games for young athletes was contested on the Boulevard de la Révolution in Bobo-Dioulasso in criterium, i.e. 3.5 km to be covered 7 times, for a total distance of 24.5 km.
Among the boys, Abdoul Latif Pasgo of EFORS Centre-Est in 45mn 21 seconds, set the best solo time with an average speed of 32.514 km/h. He is followed by Rahim Nana and Martin Compaoré from the Vélo club de Kombissiri.
Among the girls, Elvine Yaméogo from the Vélo club de Koudougou completed the criterium of 6 times 3.5 km for a total distance of 21.5 km in 41 minutes with an average speed of 31.5 km/h. She is ahead of Salamatou Zagré from the USFA and Nafi Sawadogo from the Centre-Nord.
Firmin OUATTARA
Ousmane TRAORE