The final whistle blew on Saturday, July 26, 2025, bringing to a close the first edition of the “Maracana Vert du Délégué” (Green Maracana of the Delegate) in the 9th arrondissement of Ouagadougou.
Over the course of ten days, eight youth teams competed not only for victory on the pitch, but also to promote social cohesion and environmental awareness in Burkina Faso.
The championship match, played in the Silmiyiri district, saw the Kaza team edge out Radio Omar by a single goal. The tightly contested final, structured as two 25-minute halves, saw the red-clad Radio Omar side dominate early possession. But it was Kaza, wearing yellow, who capitalized on a rare opportunity to score before halftime.
Despite a balanced second half, the 1-0 scoreline remained unchanged, crowning Kaza the inaugural champions.
Behind the tournament was Brice Ouédraogo, Delegate of the High Council of Burkinabe Abroad (HCBE) for the New York constituency and chief promoter of the initiative.
“I was recently elected as a delegate of the High Council of Burkinabe Abroad in the New York constituency, and I usually spend my holidays here. I have always participated in civic activities. This time, we thought about mobilizing young people to promote social cohesion,” he explained.
More than just a football event, the MVD also aligned with national calls for civic engagement and environmental protection. Alongside the matches, participants took part in a reforestation campaign—planting trees throughout the neighborhood.
“We also wanted, with these young people, to be part of the government’s efforts to green Burkina Faso, so that the environment is healthy. I like sport and I said to myself why not reconcile sport and the environment. We hope to be able to keep young people busy in sport and the environment in a sustainable way,” added Ouédraogo.
Representing the tournament’s High Patron, General Kassoum Coulibaly, Retired Colonel-Major Seydou Ouédraogo praised the initiative. “The objectives have been achieved. The mobilization of the population augurs better tomorrows,” he stated.
In a symbolic gesture reinforcing the tournament’s values, winners and runners-up were each awarded tree saplings alongside their prizes—100,000 CFA francs for the champions, and 50,000 CFA francs for the runners-up. No medals were distributed; instead, the lasting impact will grow—literally—in the form of trees planted by the players themselves.
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