On September 24, 2026, Charles Kaboré, Burkina Faso's Ambassador for Sport, officially launched the first edition of the Ligue de l'Espoir. This national competition is designed for young footballers under 17 years old and aims to provide more opportunities for them to compete and showcase their skills. The initiative aligns with the government's focus on youth development, sports, and promoting future sporting talent.
The Ligue de l'Espoir will feature 16 teams from various academies and training structures, divided into two groups of eight teams each. The teams will compete in matches held in Bobo-Dioulasso and Ouagadougou, leading up to the semi-finals and final. The competition is set to run from October 2026 to May 2027, with teams playing each other in a home-and-away format.
Eight teams will compete in Ouagadougou, including Académie Basga Jo, Focus Sport, AH Doua, Union sportive des forces armées, Tenankourou, Real du Faso, CEFFEB, and AS Douanes. In Bobo-Dioulasso, the participating teams are AS Hakili, Jeunesse Espoir Konsa, Association sportive de Dafra, AFC GECER, Vitesse FC, AS Maya, AJEB, and Rahimo FC.
The top two teams from each city will qualify for the semi-finals, with the winners advancing to the final. The competition format is designed to provide a platform for young players to gain experience and exposure. According to Kaboré, the Ligue de l'Espoir aims to be more than just a championship, but a space for young players to express themselves, develop their skills, and potentially become future champions.
Kaboré emphasized the importance of collective engagement in the project, encouraging academies, coaches, football stakeholders, media, and the public to support the initiative. He believes that with this support, the Ligue de l'Espoir can help young players develop their passion and skills, preparing them for professional football in Europe.
The competition's first edition is considered a pilot phase, with plans to expand it to other regions in Burkina Faso in the coming years. The current edition will feature teams selected from the Kadiogo and Guiriko regions, based on their organization and academy management.
The Ligue de l'Espoir's schedule includes the first leg of matches from October to December 2026, followed by a break in December and a resumption in January 2027. The second leg and final phases will take place from January to May 2027.
Key points
- The Ligue de l'Espoir aims to provide a platform for young footballers under 17 years old to compete and showcase their skills.
- The competition will feature 16 teams from various academies and training structures in Burkina Faso.
- The initiative aligns with the government's focus on youth development, sports, and promoting future sporting talent.
