Mali Hosts Its First National SAMBO Cup

Mali held its first National SAMBO Cup in the capital city of Bamako. The competition featured Sport SAMBO and Combat SAMBO events for both men and women, with the national federation calling the tournament a historic event and a major milestone in the development of the sport in the country.

The Cup was organized by the Mali SAMBO Federation, led by President Aichata Fofana, with support from the Ministry of Sport. According to the organizers, the competition's main goal was to bring together Mali's SAMBO community.

In Combat SAMBO, men competed in the 58kg, 64kg, 71kg, and 88kg weight categories, while women competed at 54kg, 59kg, and 64kg. Sport SAMBO medals were contested across several age groups: boys and men competed at 24kg, 44kg, 58kg, 64kg, and 71kg, while girls and women competed at 25kg, 45kg, 54kg, and 65kg.

Athletes from 12 clubs affiliated with the federation competed for the titles. Winners and medalists earned a place among the “Mali Champions 2025-2026” and will join the national SAMBO team directly for upcoming international competitions.