Morocco have qualified for the 2026 CAN de Beach Soccer after a convincing 7-1 victory over Libya in the second leg of their qualifying tie.
The result at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Maamora secured an 11-3 aggregate victory for Marco Octavio’s side, confirming their place at the continental finals in Senegal.
Amine El Bidouri and Badr El Kraichly were the outstanding performers, with each player scoring a hat-trick. Ayoub Hichou also found the net as Morocco completed a decisive win.
The Atlas Lions, who are three-time bronze medallists, will now travel to Dakar for the final tournament. The competition is scheduled to take place from 28 November to 6 December.
Their appearance in Senegal comes against the background of an ongoing dispute between the Federation royale marocaine de football (FRMF) and the Federation senegalaise de football (FSF) over the final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
Dispute over 2025 final
The result of that match was overturned in Morocco’s favour by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeal Board on 17 March. The decision followed the withdrawal of Senegal’s players from the pitch.
Relations between the two nations have since been tested by a series of mutual provocations, with both sides maintaining that they are the rightful champions of Africa.
The FSF subsequently took the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (TAS). All parties, including CAF, were heard on 8 October last year.
A ruling in that case is expected to bring the dispute to a conclusion, before Morocco’s beach soccer team returns to Senegal for the continental finals.
