The 2026 African AirBadminton Championships, hosted in Entebbe, Uganda, brought together 14 countries and over 120 participants, making it one of the largest AirBadminton events on the continent. The championships saw remarkable performances from Benin and Burkina Faso, with both teams making their mark in various categories. The competition was intense, with teams battling it out for top honors.
In the team relay event, Egypt took home the gold medal, while Benin finished second and Burkina Faso secured the bronze medal. Benin's team, comprising Oswald Ash Fano-Dosh, Carlos Miguel Codjo Kpanou, and Julien Wadoud Totin (men), and Anna Gladys Akakpo, Blessing Atchade, and Flora Kpogbernabou (women), gave Egypt a run for their money in the final, ultimately losing 60-57. Egypt's team consisted of Abdelrahman Magdy Abdelsattar, Ashraf Aly, and Ahmed Salah (men), and Reem Hussein, Nada Sherif, and Nour Refaat (women).
Burkina Faso's team defeated Mauritius 60-39 to claim the third-place spot in the team relay event. The Burkinabé team also excelled in other categories, with the "Burkina Faso NASH" team winning the women's doubles event, defeating Benin's "Benin Amazone" team 3-2. The winning pair, Latifata Belem and Samiratou Maiga, edged out Anna Gladys Akakpo and Flora Kpogbernabou in a thrilling match.
Benin's teams also performed well in other events, with the "Guepard Benin" team winning the men's triples event, defeating Riviere Du Rempart (Maurice). Additionally, "Benin Guepard 1" finished second in the men's doubles event, behind Egypt. These results demonstrate the strength and depth of Benin's AirBadminton teams.
The championships saw several teams from across Africa competing in various events, including doubles, triples, and team relay. The top three teams in each event were awarded medals, with Egypt, Benin, and Burkina Faso featuring prominently on the podium. The results reflect the growing popularity and competitiveness of AirBadminton in Africa.
In the men's doubles event, Egypt's "MD2" team took the top spot, with Benin's "Guepard 1" team finishing second. The women's doubles event saw Burkina Faso's "NASH" team emerge victorious, while Benin's "Amazone" team finished second. These results highlight the strong performances of teams from Benin, Burkina Faso, and Egypt.
The 2026 African AirBadminton Championships concluded with Benin and Burkina Faso earning qualification for the World Championships. Benin's second-place finish in the team relay event secured their spot, marking a significant achievement for the country's AirBadminton teams. The championships demonstrated the growth and competitiveness of AirBadminton in Africa, with teams from across the continent vying for top honors.
Key points
- Benin finished second in the team relay event, behind Egypt.
- Burkina Faso secured the bronze medal in the team relay event, defeating Mauritius 60-39.
- Benin and Burkina Faso qualified for the World Championships based on their performances at the 2026 African AirBadminton Championships.
