The highly anticipated clash between Morocco and Algeria is set to take place on Monday, October 12, in Rabat as both teams kick off their journey in the 2026 Africa Futsal Cup of Nations. The Atlas Lions, who are three-time African champions, will begin their title defense on home soil, aiming to impress their fans in this inaugural match.
This opening encounter of the Futsal Africa Cup of Nations will commence at 20:00 Moroccan time (22:00 in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands) at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. Fans can watch the match live on Arryadia, and the African Football Confederation (CAF) will also provide free streaming on its official YouTube channel, CAF TV.
For coach Hicham Dguig and his squad, this match marks the beginning of a new continental campaign on home turf. The coach has selected 14 players for this tournament, including notable talents such as Soufiane El Mesrar, Soufiane Borite, and Soufiane Charraoui. In statements made public on Monday, Dguig expressed confidence in his team's readiness, stating, "We are fully prepared to compete in this prestigious tournament and defend our title on home ground," as reported by the CAF.
Aiming for a Fourth African Title
On the other hand, Algeria will be making its debut in the finals of the Futsal Africa Cup of Nations. Under the guidance of coach Noureddine Benamrouche, the team secured their first qualification by defeating Guinea, achieving impressive victories of 4-0 in Conakry and 7-1 in Oran. Despite acknowledging the challenges posed by playing in Rabat, Benamrouche is determined to make a strong impression during this inaugural participation.
Morocco has clinched the last three editions of this competition, triumphing in 2016, 2020, and 2024. Their most recent victory was a commanding 5-1 win against Angola in the final held in Rabat. Securing a fourth consecutive title would not only solidify their dominance in African futsal but also allow the Atlas Lions to surpass Egypt, who has also claimed three titles in the continental rankings.
After facing Algeria, the Moroccan team will go on to compete against Zambia on Wednesday, October 14, at 20:00, followed by a match against Libya on Friday, October 16, at the same hour. The top two teams from Group A will advance to the semi-finals.
This eighth edition of the tournament, organized in Rabat from October 12 to 21, features eight competing teams, with all 16 matches set to be broadcasted on CAF TV, as announced by the African confederation. The finale will be held on Wednesday, October 21.
As reported by bladi.net.
