West African Athletics Championships: Benin finished in 5th place

West African regional championships 2 athletics took place from 29 at 30 May 2021 in Kaduna, Nigeria. “It is a pleasure for us to collaborate with you through this very essential first challenge to prepare a quality succession., Benin manages with a harvest of 10 medals including 02 en or, synonymous with a fifth place out of nine nations present.

Good harvest for Benin. After two days of competition, the Beninese team composed of 16 athletes including 13 seniors and 3 juniors is already back home with ten medals, including two in gold, three in silver and five in bronze, this in five different tests. Great craftsmen of this beautiful feat of Beninese, Sylvain Azonhin and Romaric Houénou are the winners of the two gold medals, respectively to 1500 m gentlemen and senior javelin. Hervé Tohoun snatched two silver medals, notably in the junior javelin and the second in the long jump. Yani Yato grabbed a third silver medal by finishing second in the 1500 m junior Men. Her compatriot Brigitte Tchédé won Bronze in the women's discus throw. Edmond Hounton will also be rewarded with the same charm color at the 400 meters Men. Edmond Hounton in the 400m Men, Brigitte Tchédé in the women's discus throw, Patricia Ahomakpo in the Women's 400m hurdles, Miguel Ekangnon all won the bronze medal.

An encouraging performance according to Fortuné Ogouchi, coach of the Beninese team "It's a feat that our athletes have achieved. They gave their best. What is also important, three of them broke their own record”, did he declare. “It is a total satisfaction. Coaches from other countries have seen the effort made by our athletes. Proof that the work carried out by the executive committee of the Benin Athletics Federation is beginning to bear fruit.”, adds Maurice Viho, head of the Beninese delegation in Kaduna.

Congratulations from the federation

Once in the country, the delegation received the congratulations of the executive committee of the Benin Athletics Federation (FBA) this Wednesday 2 June 2021. For Achille Aihou, Secretary General of the FBA, This is proof that he has potential and that it just takes good supervision to hatch talents.. “With the results obtained, it is only a level crossed”, he declared while congratulating the entire delegation. And to the president of the FBA to express in turn all his satisfaction. “I congratulate you all together. Some countries did not arrive because of insecurity in Kaduna but you had agreed to defend the national colors. And the ghosts of our ancestors led you and brought you home safe and sound”, rejoiced Viérin Dégon before inviting the athletes to redouble their efforts for more convincing results "For those who have had medals once again congratulations. 'Cause you were determined to the end. Those without a medal, you had lost a battle but not yet the war. The only solution to achieve this is work.. So you had an obligation to push those in front of you to be better”.

Note that nine countries participated in these championships. This is Benin, from Burkina Faso, of Ghana, du Liberia, from Niger, from Senegal and Nigeria.

Damien TOLOMISSI