Hosts Egypt off to flying start in Hurghada

HURGHADA, Egypt — CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations Egypt 2024 hosts, Egypt got off to a flying start in Hurghada after they overcame Ghana 6 – 3 in the second match of the opening day of the continental edition.

Egypt, who finished runners-up in the last edition hosted in Mozambique are aiming to go all the way in front of their home fans with a resounding result that saw them go top of Group A ahead of Morocco who overcame Tanzania 4-3 in their opening match earlier in the day.

Ghana, who missed out in the last edition following their 2015 and 2016 appearances put up an impressive performance but could not match the clinical display of the Egyptians who eventually put six in response to the four of Ghana.

Elsewhere, Morocco was the first to secure victory at the Beach AFCON 2024 competition.

The tournament officially got underway with a Group A encounter between Morocco and Tanzania to officially mark the start to the eight-nation tournament set to run between October 19 – 26.

Following an action-packed encounter, it was the Moroccans who eventually emerged victorious with a closely contested 4-3 scoreline to temporarily secure top spot in the group.

Group A consisting of the hosts Egypt, Tanzania, Morocco as well as Ghana.

Group B features Senegal, Mozambique, Malawi and Mauritania.

With this being Morocco’s sixth appearance, they will be hoping at going beyond their best finish in the last two editions where they finished third.

EGYPT

• Tournament hosts for the second time after staging the 2018 edition where they finished third.
• Finished runners up at the last edition in Mozambique.
• Represented Africa at the last BS World Cup alongside Senegal. 

FACTS

• The CAF Beach Soccer competition was first played in 2015 in Roche Caiman, Seychelles where it was won by Madagascar.
• The Tournament makes a return to Egyptian shores after first being held there in 2018 where it was won by Senegal.
• Reigning champions, Senegal are by far the most successful nation with 4 titles.
• Winners and runners up of this year’s tournament will join Seychelles as the three African representatives at next year’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup to be held in Africa for the very first time.

GHANA

• Played in 2015 and 2016 but have since missed out of qualification since then
• Ghana is yet to advance from the group stages of the tournament and will be hoping to do so in Egypt.
• They overcame Cote d’Ivoire 10-5 on aggregate enroute to qualification for the finals.

MALAWI

• Malawi will be playing their second Beach Soccer AFCON after making their debut in Mozambique in 2022.
• They overcame a resilient Burundi 15 – 14 on aggregate, with the last match being a 8-8 draw that saw them advance to the finals.
• They finished third in the group stages of the 2022 edition and will be looking at advancing from the group stages on second attempt.

MOROCCO

• This is Morocco’s sixth Beach Soccer AFCON appearance.
• They were semi-finalists in 2015 and 2016.
• Morocco has two bronze medals at the CAF Beach Soccer AFCON Finals (2021 & 2022). They finished fourth at the 2016 and 2018 respective editions.

MAURITANIA

• Mauritania participating in their first ever CAF Beach Soccer AFCON.
• Their qualification came at the expense of two-time champions, Nigeria whom they edged 6 – 5 on aggregate.
• Mauritania is coached by former national team captain, Moussa Baghayogho who captained the Mauritania in their first CHAN appearance in Rwanda 2016.

MOZAMBIQUE

• Hosts of the last CAF Beach Soccer AFCON in Mozambique where they finished fourth after losing out to Morocco.
• Mozambique’s best finish came in the 2021 edition where they finished second behind Senegal.
• Mozambique remains the only nation from the COSAFA region to achieve a podium finish since the tournament’s inception. The finished second in the Senegal 2021 edition).

SENEGAL

• Senegal is the most successful nation at the Beach Soccer AFCON with 4 titles.
• They have been dominant in the last four editions, winning it four times in succession (2016, 2018, 2021 and 2022) and finishing second behind Madagascar in the inaugural 2015 edition.
• Senegal captain, Al Seyni Ndiaye is the most successful player in the tournament and has been a member of all Senegalese squads that won the CAF Beach Soccer AFCON.

TANZANIA

• This will be Tanzania’s third appearance at the CAF Beach Soccer AFCON where they will be hoping to advance to the knockout stages for the first time.
• Their first appearance was in the 2018 edition here in Egypt where they finished bottom of their Group B.
• There was a slight improvement in their 2021 appearance where their finished third in Group A.