On Tuesday, November 17, 2025, the Téné Birahima Ouattara room at the Hôtel des Armées (Plateau) served as the venue for a major recognition ceremony. Under the leadership of Lieutenant General Lassina Doumbia , Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces (CEMGA), the Armed Forces of Côte d'Ivoire (FACI) celebrated their top athletes of the year.

A shower of rewards for the champions

Nearly thirty military personnel, who have distinguished themselves on the national and international stage, were honored. As a token of recognition for their dedication, a total of eight million CFA francs was distributed to the recipients.

Several notable awards marked the ceremony:

1. Colonel Toaly Bai Williams (Head of the Sports Office): Received an exceptional award for the quality of the organization and the rigorous implementation of the sports program.
2. Brigadier General M'Bahia Patrick Alexandre: Honored for the successes of the Taekwondo section (SOA), notably after the harvest of gold medals and the title of "best female athlete" won at the Vipers International Open in Zimbabwe.
3. The Military Firefighters Group (GSPM): Awarded "most assiduous unit" for its systematic participation in competitions, while scrupulously respecting the quotas for female personnel.

Sport: "An incubator of leadership"

Beyond physical performance, General Lassina Doumbia used this platform to reiterate that sport is the very essence of the military profession. For the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, sporting achievements reflect the growing strength of the armed forces .

"Sport is not just a school of physical performance. It is an incubator where character and leadership are built. It forges strong, enduring and balanced soldiers," he stated.

The General stressed that the values of the stadium — respect for the rules, team spirit and loyalty — are identical to those required in theaters of operation.

Heading towards 2026: Sport as an operational requirement

The Chief of Staff concluded by reiterating that physical activity is not an option, but a command requirement . He invited all units to prepare for the 2026 championships, which will cover a variety of disciplines such as:

1. Swimming
2. Taekwondo
3. Precision shooting
4. Boxing