The first edition of the Maracaña Faso Transport Tournament concluded impressively on Sunday, October 4, 2026. At the Naaba Wanksé school field in Nonsin, Ouagadougou, Jeunes Pélés claimed the trophy by defeating Song-Naaba United in a penalty shootout (4-3) after a 1-1 draw at the end of regulation time.
The final captivated the audience. In a match where both teams were evenly matched for a long time, Jeunes Pélés managed to take the lead before halftime. However, Song-Naaba United quickly responded after the break, leveling the score.
Despite several chances created by both sides, neither team could find the decisive goal. It took a penalty shootout to determine the first champion in the tournament's history. More skilled in this exercise, Jeunes Pélés triumphed 4-3 and celebrated their victory.
For Faïçal Nignan, captain of Jeunes Pélés, the key to victory lay in the experience accumulated by his team. "Both teams were equal. The match was very balanced. But what made the difference was the experience. We have participated in many tournaments," he said.
On the side of Song-Naaba United, disappointment did not overshadow the efforts made during the final. Their captain, Flavien Kinda, nicknamed "Couthino," believes his teammates delivered a performance worthy of the occasion. "It was a very competitive final. We did not underperform; we gave everything to win this trophy," he stated. However, he regretted the missed opportunities: "In a final, if you create chances and do not convert them, it will always come back to haunt you."
Beyond the sporting result, the organizers view this first edition positively. Abdoul Aziz Derra, president of the organizing committee, particularly highlights the enthusiasm generated by the event and the impact of the message conveyed by the tournament.
The final also saw the participation of government members, traditional leaders, cultural officials, and sports figures, including the ambassador for Sport, Charles Kaboré. The ceremony was held under the patronage of Mahamadou Sana, Minister of Security, with Serge Gnaniodem Poda, Minister of Industry, Commerce, and Handicrafts, as co-patron.
For Abdoul Aziz Derra, this mobilization illustrates the strong expectations of the youth. "We had the presence of government members, but also traditional leaders and cultural officials who came to support the youth. This is exactly what the youth demand: support and guidance. I believe we have been heard," he emphasized.
The tournament also aimed to transcend the simple framework of football. Social cohesion and the promotion of peace were among the main objectives of the organizers. "The essential goal of this activity was to promote social cohesion and peace. In the current context our country is going through, we must encourage peace at all levels, whether in football or in other sectors of society. We must all work for peace. Long live Burkina Faso!" the PCO reminded.
The initiative was also accompanied by actions in favor of the Naaba Wanksé school. The tournament promoter, Abdoul Karim Compaoré, contributed to works within the establishment and plans to continue his support. "We also extend a special thanks to our promoter, Mr. Abdou Karim Compaoré, who is truly a man with a big heart. If you look around us, you can see that a building was completed in just two days, with windows and doors. After the tournament, he will also return to provide educational materials for teachers and students. This is an initiative we strongly commend," Abdoul Aziz Derra testified.
However, the organizing committee intends to learn from this first experience. Security around the playing field is one of the aspects to improve. "For a first edition, everything could not obviously be perfect. For the coming years, we plan to improve the organization," the PCO acknowledged.
They particularly wish for enhanced measures to prevent crowd movements at the end of matches: "When a goal was scored, many people wanted to enter the field. On this matter, we call for player safety to be a priority. We need to strengthen the measures to ensure everyone's safety and allow the tournament to continue to develop under better conditions."
With Jeunes Pélés' triumph and strong mobilization around the final, this first edition of the Maracaña Faso Transport Tournament thus concludes its first chapter. The organizers now wish to build on this experience to firmly establish the competition in the sports landscape, with peace, cohesion, and coexistence as fundamental values.
