The “Stars” confirm their supremacy

The African Championships in Douala (June 21-26) witnessed the continent's experienced athletes assert their supremacy in their respective events. Triple jump world champion Hugues Fabrice Zango (Burkina Faso) and hammer thrower Mostafa Elgamel (Egypt) were crowned for the third time. Odile Ahouanwanou has written a beautiful story for Benin.

She has a third victory in the heptathlon after Asaba in Nigeria in 2018 and Saint-Pierre, in Mauritius in 2022. The javelin world champion in 2015 Julius Yego (Kenya) brought his total of African Champion titles to five. The prize goes to the Algerian Larbi Bourrada (Decathlon), six-time African champion in 2008 in Addis Ababa, in 2010 in Nairobi, in 2014 in Marrakech, in 2018 in Asaba, in 2022 in Saint-Pierre and in 2024 in Douala.

The news that social networks relayed spoke much more about shortcomings in the organization than about the athletes' performances. However, on the track and in the workshops of other disciplines, the athletes gave the best of themselves. Liberia’s Joseph Fahnbulleh achieved a historic double in the sprint with 10”13 in 100m and 20”25 in 200m. Undoubtedly, he left his mark on the competition and emerged as one of the great hopes of the Continent.

Odile Ahouanwanou from Benin, a big favorite in the Heptathlon, confirmed her rank by dominating in all events with 5777 points. On the podium, we find the reigning African vice-champion, South Africa’s Shannon Verster who ranked 3rd just behind the Cameroonian prodigy Adèle Mafongang. It should be noted that Odile Ahouanwanou will take part in the next Paris 2024 Olympic Games thanks to the ranking where she is classified among the best. The Senegalese Louis François Mendy (13''49 in 110m hurdles), Cheikh Tidiane Diouf (45''23 in 400m) and Saly Sarr (14m06 in Triple jump) left Douala with the continental recognition for the first time. Senegalese athletics, losing momentum, seems to be reborn from its ashes... Gambia’s Gina Bass confirmed her status as Queen of African sprinting by dominating the 100m in 11''14. Her duel with Ivorian Marie-Josée Talou was very much expected but the latter withdrew after having won her heat. And unsurprisingly, Burkina’s Hugues Fabrice Zango, thanks to a jump of 17m18, is crowned African champion in the Triple jump and retains his title. He is also the outdoor triple jump world champion in 2023, the indoor world champion in 2024. He is also the first Olympic medalist (bronze medal) in the history of Burkina Faso and the world record holder for indoor triple jump, performed in 2021 in Aubière in France with a jump of 18m07m. His presence enhanced the Cameroonian rendezvous. Just like that of Botswana’s sprinter Letsile Tebogo, the African record holder over 200 m and double medalist over 100m and 200m during the 2023 World Athletics Championships. He easily passed his heat, but he did not want to continue the competition. He participated in the 4x100m relay and even helped set a new national record. In the final, his team was disqualified for dropping the baton during the race. Tebogo did not want to take any risks a few weeks before the Paris Olympics which constitute the objective of several contenders for the Olympic Podium. Nigeria’s Tobi AMUSAN (African number 1 in the 100m hurdles) preferred to participate only in the 4x100m relay to bring Gold to her team.

At the end of this 23rd edition, South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria showed their ambitions. And it is logical that they take the 3 places on the African podium.

MEDAL /TABLE

AFRICAN ATHLETICS CONFEDERATION

23rd CAA AFRICAN CHAMPIONSHIPS

DOUALA FROM JUNE 21 TO 26, 2026

NB : VINGT SIX PAYS FIGURENT AU CLASSEMENT DES MEDAILLES