Ouagadougou: The Postal Sports Association (AS Poste) clinched victory in the first edition of the p©tanque tournament organized by the Association for Action for the Economic and Social Development of Burkina Faso (ADES/BF). The event took place on Sunday evening in Ouagadougou's Bassinko district, where AS Poste narrowly defeated the Buayaba team, scoring 9 points to 8 in a nail-biting match, as observed by AIB on-site.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the tournament's initial stages saw Buayaba take the lead with 2 points from the first cork throw. AS Poste quickly countered, securing 4 points in the second end. However, the competition intensified as Buayaba accumulated 6 points over the next three shots, bringing the score to 8-4. The decisive turnaround came from the dexterous play of Ibrahim Ou©draogo and his teammates, who propelled AS Poste to a 9-8 victory.

AS Poste's triumph earned them the tournament trophy, gold medals, 200,000 FCFA, and a certificate of participation. Buayaba, the runners-up, received 100,000 FCFA, silver medals, and a certificate of recognition. The Nebnooma team secured the third position. Saam Naaba Boulga, president of ADES/BF and a key figure in organizing the event, expressed gratitude to all participants and contributors. He extended special thanks to Bassolma Bazi©, president of the AES commission, for her dedication, as well as the sister association Lagm-taab zanma.

Saam Naaba Boulga emphasized the significance of the event in fostering regional unity. He stated, "We were born just a few months ago and aimed to organize this integration p©tanque competition to strengthen ties among Burkina, Mali, and Niger, who have been in dialogue for our total liberation."

MP Issaka Tapsoba, representing the event's leadership, lauded the initiative, noting, "The competition lived up to its promises, with over 600 competitors. It concluded successfully, and everyone left satisfied." Tapsoba highlighted the event's alignment with efforts to unite and ensure cohesion among AES populations.

The tournament featured participation from nearly 32 triplet teams, marking a significant activity in ADES/BF's 72-hour event. Organizers plan to reconvene in six months, contingent on favorable conditions.

Founded on April 7, 2025, ADES/BF is a civil society organization based in Ouagadougou, dedicated to non-political, non-denominational, and non-profit initiatives.