Burundi finished third at the 16th Central African Karate Championships after winning a record 49 medals during the regional tournament held in Bujumbura over the weekend.
The host nation earned seven gold, 34 silver and eight bronze medals, according to the Burundi Karate Federation. Cameroon topped the medal table with 28 gold, seven silver and two bronze medals, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo finished second. Gabon placed fourth, followed by Equatorial Guinea and Chad.
The championships, held from July 10 to 12, brought together athletes from six Central African countries competing in kata and kumite events across multiple age categories. The tournament was organized under the Central African zone of the African Karate Federation (UFAK). Nine countries had initially been expected to participate, but the Central African Republic, Congo-Brazzaville and São Tomé and Príncipe did not attend.
Burundi Karate Federation President Sylvain Nzikoruriho said the competition exposed both the strengths and shortcomings of the national team ahead of larger international events.
“This competition served as a true school of learning for our athletes. It allowed us to identify several areas that require improvement before the African championships in Algeria and the World Championships in Poland,” Nzikoruriho said.
National team coach Gilbert Havugimpundu described the medal haul as the country’s best at a competition of this level. “Burundi has never won this many medals at a championship of this level,” Havugimpundu said.
He added that the number of female competitors in the national squad has increased in recent years, a development he said reflects efforts to expand participation in the sport.
While Burundi’s total medal count was its highest at the regional championships, the results also underscored the gap separating the country from Cameroon, which dominated the competition by winning four times as many gold medals.
Karate has been one of the growing combat sports in Burundi, with the national federation seeking greater exposure through regional competitions. However, Burundian athletes have yet to establish a consistent presence on the African podium, where countries such as Egypt, Morocco and Algeria have traditionally dominated the sport. The World Karate Federation currently recognizes more than 190 national federations, and African athletes regularly compete on the continental and international circuits.
Nzikoruriho said the federation hopes to strengthen technical preparation before the continental championships in Algeria and the World Karate Championships in Poland. He also called for greater investment in coaching, including recruiting international experts to help prepare athletes for higher-level competition.
The next edition of the Central African Karate Championships is scheduled to be held in Equatorial Guinea in 2027.
