Kongoussi: The competitions of the Union of School and University Sports of Burkina Faso (USSU-BF) were officially launched on Sunday, March 13, 2026, in Kongoussi, under the chairmanship of the High Commissioner of the Bam Province, Karim Ouedraogo.

According to Burkina Information Agency, several secondary schools in Bam province have committed to USSU-BF 2026 in different disciplines. The opening match (U20) pitted the Kongoussi departmental high school against the Kongoussi provincial high school. The provincial high school emerged victorious, winning 2-0.

More than twenty matches are scheduled to determine the winners of the football competition. The top teams in each category (football and athletics) will represent Bam province at the regional phase in Kaya, before potentially qualifying for the national phase.

The High Commissioner of Bam, Karim Ouedraogo, who is also the president of the provincial organizing committee, invited the students to worthily defend the colours of their schools and the province throughout the competition. 'Keep in mind that you are primarily representing your institutions. If the competition continues at the provincial and regional levels, you will have the honour of representing the entire province, or even the region,' he said. He also urged the young athletes to demonstrate discipline, courage, and fair play throughout the competition.

The provincial director of sports and recreation for Bam, Mohamini Ouedraogo, praised the mobilization of education and sports stakeholders around this activity dedicated to youth. He believes that school sports contribute to the well-rounded education of students by instilling in them values of discipline, perseverance, and fraternity.

As a reminder, ten schools are taking part in these competitions, divided into the U15, U17, and U20 categories in football, as well as in several athletic disciplines such as running, jumping, and traditional wrestling.