Burkina Faso dominates PRURide 2026 Elite Race in Accra

Burkinabè cyclists delivered a commanding performance at the seventh edition of the PRURide Elite Race, which ended at the Borteyman Highway on Sunday, September 6, 2026, with riders from Burkina Faso sweeping the top honours in both the men’s and women’s races.

More than 100 cyclists, including 21 women, took part in the event, which brought together competitors from Ghana, Nigeria and Burkina Faso.

The 112-kilometre men’s elite race was dominated almost entirely by Burkina Faso, whose riders occupied eight of the top ten positions. Soumaïla Ibiboudo crossed the finish line first in a time of 2:46:14.85 to claim the men’s overall title and the GH¢15,000 winner’s prize.

It was an exceptionally close finish, with his compatriot Saturnin Yameogo coming in just fractions of a second behind at 2:46:15.27 to take second place and GH¢8,000. Ilboudo Issouf completed an all-Burkina Faso top three in 2:48:29.02, earning GH¢5,000 for third place.

Ghana’s strongest finish came from Emmanuel Sesi of the Police Cycling Team, who placed eighth, while Prince Kudufia of Team Epic finished tenth. In the team standings, AJCK, the Association des Jeunes Cyclistes de Koudougou, took first place, followed by Die Hard Cycling Club and River Park Cycling Club.

The Burkinabè women followed the same script, with Awa Bamogo of the Union Sportive des Forces Armées claiming the women’s overall title after completing the race in 1:56:05 to take home GH¢15,000. Her USFA teammate, Marie Rose Yameogo Eveline, finished second in 2:00:24 to earn GH¢8,000, while Zongo Samiratou, also of USFA, crossed the line third in 2:00:25 to take home GH¢5,000.

The result gave Burkina Faso a clean sweep in the women’s race, with USFA riders occupying six of the top ten positions. Marie Rose Yameogo Eveline also received special recognition as the youngest female rider, with the official results listing her as an eighteen-year-old junior rider from Burkina Faso.

While Burkina Faso’s dominance was the major talking point of the day’s racing, the event also celebrated cyclists across different categories, including the Persons with Disability category. Richard Yaw Attah emerged as the men’s winner, while Ebenezer Mensah Adjei finished second, with both receiving GH¢1,000 each.

Special recognition was also given to the oldest and youngest male riders. Melcom Americo, aged 51, was recognised as the oldest male rider, while Farrakhan Shaaban Mohammed, aged 19, was named the youngest. Both received GH¢1,000 each.

The high standard of competition was reflected in the race speeds, with the men’s 112-kilometre race recording an average speed of 40.43 kilometres per hour, while the women’s race averaged 34.73 kilometres per hour.

Dignitaries at the event included Mr Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, Director-General of the National Sports Authority; Mr Richard Akpokavie, President of the Ghana Olympic Committee; His Excellency David Kabre, Ambassador of Burkina Faso to Ghana; Mr Gilbert Abeiku Aggrey Santana, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Tourism Authority; ACP Dr Samuel Sasu Mensah, National Director of Operations of the Motor Traffic and Transport Department; and Mr Shaaban Mohammed, General Secretary of the Ghana Cycling Federation. They were joined by Mrs Jane Mingle, Chief Executive Officer of Prudential Life Insurance Ghana, and members of the Prudential family and partners.