Ouagadougou: Burkina Faso finished at the top of the second edition of the Sahel Confederation of States (AES) Games, with 125 medals, ahead of Niger with 72 and Mali with 54, at the end of ten days of competition, exchange between young people and promotion of Sahelian sporting heritage, in the Burkinabe capital.

According to Burkina Information Agency, a total of 376 athletes and 164 coaches from Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger took part in the competitions in eleven sports disciplines, including football, handball, traditional wrestling, boxing, judo, athletics, archery, and kung-fu wushu.

The Minister of Sports, Youth and Employment of Burkina Faso, Annick Lydie Djouma Pikbougoum/Zingu Ouattara, highlighted the importance given to disciplines contributing to the enhancement of the Sahelian sporting heritage, particularly traditional wrestling and archery. She emphasized the significance of knowing one's worth and preserving cultural identity, inviting the young people of AES to remain deeply rooted in their culture. She also told the athletes that they are not only the beneficiaries of the unfolding story but also the key actors in it.

This second edition, which concluded on Tuesday, September 16 in Ouagadougou, allowed athletes from the three countries to compete in different disciplines while also promoting encounters between young people from the Confederation. The Director General of Sports and Recreation of Burkina Faso, President of the National Organising Committee for the Games, Wendgut Valrie Badolo/Tapsoba, praised the mobilisation around the event, noting the transformation of a decision into reality and an ambition into an event. She also acknowledged the support of the defense and security forces, health services, volunteers, and the Burkinabe population during the competition.

With 125 medals, Burkina Faso leads Niger (72) and Mali (54) in the provisional final standings of this second edition. The third edition of the AES Games is scheduled for 2027 in Niamey, Niger.