This is a major announcement for school sports in Côte d'Ivoire. On Saturday, January 17, 2026, at the Lycée Moderne de Cocody, the Director General of the OISSU (Office of School Sports and University Sports), Adama Doumbia , officially announced the return of the school games for the current season. This flagship competition is being revived after an eight-year hiatus.

A renaissance marked by innovation

This return is the result of close collaboration between the Ministry of Sports, headed by Adjé Silas Metch , and the Directorate of School Life (DVS). While logistical details will be communicated later, the ambition is clear: to offer students a high-level competition platform, similar to the success of the Korhogo University Games last year.

Key figures for the season

The enthusiasm is already palpable across the entire country:

1. 3,445 establishments registered on the official platform.
2. 30,000 matches planned (compared to 20,000 in the previous season).
3. Categories concerned: from U12 to U22, in male and female versions.

Disciplines and international openness

The sports program is particularly extensive this year. In addition to classics like football , basketball (including 3x3), handball , and table tennis , OISSU incorporates a variety of disciplines such as:

1. Martial arts ( Taekwondo, Judo ).
2. Urban and traditional sports ( Gaming, Maracana, Small posts ).

One of the major objectives is also to prepare the elite of tomorrow. The best talents will be able to test themselves at the world level during international events planned for 2026: cross-country in Italy (March) and basketball and handball tournaments in France (June).

Sport as a lever for excellence and peace

Beyond physical performance, Adama Doumbia emphasizes the social impact of these competitions. School sports aim to:

1. To pacify the school environment by channeling energies.
2. Improving academic performance by combating learning-related stress.
3. Instilling civic values : fair play, courage, self-improvement and camaraderie.

"Sport contributes to building a balanced individual," the Director General reminded everyone.

As a reminder, this 2025-2026 season was symbolically launched on November 22nd in Dabou with a popular cross-country race, marking the beginning of a year that promises to be historic for Ivorian school sport.