Burkina Faso’s “Golden Sabot” Awards Set to Celebrate Local Football Talent
The “Golden Sabot,” an award created to honour the best local footballer in Burkina Faso, has announced its three nominees ahead of a ceremony scheduled for late October.
The nominations were unveiled at a press conference on Thursday by the organisers, highlighting the country’s top-performing local players from the past season. The shortlisted candidates are Aboubacar Traoré, captain and defender of Etoile Filante de Ouagadougou; Banou Diawara, who finished as the top scorer for Rail Club du Kadiogo (RCB); and Zakarya Sanogo, a promising young talent currently playing for ASFB.
The awards ceremony will take place on October 25 and is expected to be attended by leading figures in Burkinabe football, including the Minister of Sports.
Issiaka Ilboudo, the trophy’s promoter, emphasised the motivation behind the initiative: “We noticed that local championships do not attract many spectators to our stadiums. This is a challenge also recognised by CAF and FIFA, which led to the creation of the African Nations Championship (CHAN). We launched this trophy to encourage local players to raise the standard of football.”
In addition to the main award, the event will also honour the league’s top scorer, best goalkeeper, best attacker, and will announce the best eleven players of the year.
The “Golden Sabot” represents a significant step in boosting the profile of Burkina Faso’s domestic football scene, aiming to inspire local players and foster greater interest among fans.
