Ouagadougou: The Polytechnic Higher School of Youth (ESUP Jeunesse) triumphed in the 3rd edition of the University Championship (CDU) by narrowly defeating the Higher Institute of Technology (IST) of Tanghin with a score of 1-0 on Sunday, June 15, as observed by AIB.
According to Burkina Information Agency, after a balanced first half that ended 0-0, ESUP Jeunesse managed to seize the opportunity in the second half. Despite IST's dominance throughout the game, they were undone by a well-timed counterattack from ESUP Jeunesse, resulting in Abdoul Samadou Sayaogo scoring the decisive goal, to the jubilation of ESUP's supporters.
As the match intensified, IST launched multiple attacks, utilizing long-range shots and free kicks, yet they were unable to equalize. The match concluded with the scoreline unchanged, securing ESUP Jeunesse the championship title.
Victory in the tournament awarded ESUP Jeunesse the trophy, gold medals, and a financial prize of 1 million CFA francs. Team captain Abel Bazi© expressed his gratitude towards the organizers, emphasizing the importance of such competitions. He stated, "A final isn't something you play for. It's something you win. That's what we did," and acknowledged the talent displayed by both teams.
Cheick Omar Ilboudo, the competition's promoter, expressed his gratitude for the successful execution of the championship. He highlighted the social initiative associated with the event, which involved donating 300 helmets to students in Burkina Faso to promote safety and protection.
Joseph Zagr©, from the Kastor Africa group, who sponsored the event, appealed to the Burkinabe youth to embrace sports as a unifying force and emphasized the importance of wearing helmets to prevent traffic-related injuries.