LONAB supports Tour du Faso 2025 with 100m FCFA
Since its inception in 1987, the race has evolved from an amateur competition to a UCI Africa Tour staple.
Burkina Faso.- Burkina Faso’s national lottery operator, LONAB, has pledged 100m FCFA (€152,000) to sponsor the 36th edition of the Tour du Faso, a major cycling race in West Africa.
The agreement, signed on October 22, 2025, at the Ministry of Economy and Finance in Ouagadougou, involved LONAB, the Ministry of Sports, Youth, and Employment, and SPORPUB International, the event’s sponsorship coordinator.
The funding will support the race, which runs from October 24 to November 2, covering a distance of 1,177.6 kilometres across ten stages. Twelve teams from ten countries, including Burkina Faso, will compete, with LONAB’s sponsorship extending to the yellow jersey, which will be awarded to the top-ranked rider.
The Tour du Faso, organised by France’s Amaury Sport Organisation in partnership with local authorities, draws cyclists and fans from across West Africa. Since its inception in 1987, the race has evolved from an amateur competition to a UCI Africa Tour staple. Burkina Faso leads with 16 wins, followed by Morocco with five.
Ibrahim Zarani, LONAB’s Director General, emphasised the race’s role in uniting communities. He said: “The Tour du Faso is more than a competition: it is a symbol of self-improvement, resilience and social cohesion. For over 35 years, it has been a source of national pride and a benchmark for African sport.”
Roland Somda, Sports Minister, praised the sponsorship, saying: “In a national context marked by numerous challenges, maintaining an event of this magnitude shows the determination and solidarity of all stakeholders. This 100 million CFA franc contribution gives new impetus to this edition’s success.”
