CAF Beach Soccer AFCON Senegal 2026 : Morocco – Looking at going all their way in their seventh appearance
Morocco will make their seventh consecutive appearance at the CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations when they travel to Senegal for the 2026 edition, determined to improve on a record that has seen them finish third in each of the last three tournaments.
The Atlas Lions have established themselves among the continent’s leading beach soccer nations and will be targeting a place in the final as they look to take the next step in their continental journey.
Morocco team profile
§ Appearances: Seventh edition
§ Last appearance: 2024
§ Best performance: Third place (2021, 2022 and 2024)
§ Coach: Marco Octavio
§ Captain: Amine El Bidouri
How the team qualified
Morocco booked their place at the CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations Senegal 2026 with an emphatic 11-3 aggregate victory over Libya in the second round of the qualifiers.
The Atlas Lions secured a 4-2 away win in the first leg before completing the job with a commanding 7-1 victory on home soil. The result confirmed their seventh appearance at the continental finals.
The Coach: Marco Octavio
Experienced Brazilian coach Marco Octavio took charge of Morocco earlier in 2026, bringing considerable international experience to the national team.
He previously coached Brazil’s beach soccer national team and has also worked with the national sides of Portugal, the United Arab Emirates, China and Iran. His coaching career also includes spells with several clubs in Brazil and Iran.
Octavio will be tasked with guiding Morocco beyond the semi-final stage and challenging for their first continental title.
Key player: Amine El Bidouri
Captain Amine El Bidouri played a decisive role in Morocco’s qualification campaign, scoring a hattrick against Libya as the Atlas Lions secured their place at the finals.
He was also among Morocco’s standout performers at the 2024 edition in Egypt, where the team finished third. His leadership and attacking contribution will be important as Morocco look to turn their consistent podium finishes into a title challenge in Senegal.
Morocco at the CAF Beach Soccer AFCON
Morocco finished fifth at the inaugural edition in 2015 before reaching the semi-finals in each of the next five tournaments.
They finished fourth in 2016 and 2018, followed by three successive third-place finishes in 2021, 2022 and 2024.
That consistency has established Morocco as a regular contender in African beach soccer. In Senegal, the Atlas Lions will be looking to convert their recent progress into a place in the final and a first continental crown.