Morocco Dominate Zambia in CAF Futsal Africa Cup of Nations, Securing Semi-Final Spot

Hosts Morocco continued their dominant march towards a fourth successive TotalEnergies CAF Futsal Africa Cup of Nations title with a resounding 7-0 victory over Zambia in Rabat on Wednesday, securing their place in the semi-finals with a game to spare.

The defending champions proved simply too strong for the Southern Africans, who had started the tournament on an encouraging note with a 3-1 victory over former champions Libya.

Idriss Raiss El Fenni was the star performer for Morocco, netting four goals and completing his hat-trick within the opening nine minutes to propel the hosts into an early lead.

Yanis Ahmed Erraddaf added a fourth goal before halftime, and El Fenni struck again shortly after the break, with Soufiane Charraoui and Youssef Jouad completing the emphatic rout.

Zambia’s difficult evening was further compounded when Hendricks Chisanga received a red card in the closing stages. However, despite the heavy defeat, their hopes of advancing to the knockout rounds remain very much alive.

Coach Andrea Cristoforetti will need to rally his players quickly ahead of their final Group A fixture against Algeria on Friday, where a draw would likely secure a place in the semi-finals.

Morocco lead Group A with six points from two games, having scored eleven goals without reply, while Zambia remain second with three points.

Algeria and Libya each claim one point following a dramatic 2-2 draw in Wednesday’s other fixture.

Libya appeared on course for their first victory after goals from Ibrahim Lemhammel and Abdulhakim Rashid handed them a 2-0 lead with just 11 minutes remaining.

But Algeria hit back through Ali Skender Sichaib, before Samyr Teffaf grabbed a dramatic equaliser in the penultimate minute, shortly after Libya’s Ahmed Abdelhafide had been shown a red card.

The result leaves both teams needing victories in their final fixtures, with Algeria set to face Zambia and Libya taking on Morocco on Friday.

Attention switches to Group B on Thursday, where three-time champions Egypt face Mozambique, and 2024 runners-up Angola take on debutants Tanzania.

Egypt head the standings on goal difference following their emphatic 8-0 opening demolition of Tanzania, with Angola in second after defeating fellow COSAFA side Mozambique 5-1.

Victory for Egypt and Angola on Thursday would send both teams into the semi-finals with a match to spare, setting up a final group encounter between them on Saturday to decide top spot in the pool.

Mozambique and Tanzania, meanwhile, are under pressure to collect points to keep their hopes alive following disappointing opening defeats.

Mozambique face a particularly daunting challenge against an Egyptian side that scored eight goals in their first outing, while Tanzania will need to find a way to contain an Angola attack that impressed in their match against fellow Southern African neighbours.

The final round of Group B matches will take place on Saturday, featuring Egypt versus Angola and Mozambique against Tanzania, with the top two sides in each pool advancing to the semi-finals on Monday.

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