Libya and Zambia set for TotalEnergies CAF Futsal AFCON Morocco 2026 opener
Libya and Zambia will get the TotalEnergies CAF Futsal Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 underway on Monday afternoon when the two sides meet in the opening match of the continental showpiece at the Moulay Abdellah Sports Hall in Rabat.
The Mediterranean Knights and Chipolopolo will be eager to make an early statement as Africa’s eight best futsal nations begin their quest for continental honours in the tournament, which runs from 12 to 21 October.
Libya head into the finals with strong credentials, having finished third at the 2024 edition after defeating Egypt on penalties. The 2008 champions will be looking to build on that achievement under new head coach Pereira da Silva, who takes charge following Ricardo Inuguez’s successful spell at the helm.
The former Al-Ittihad and Misrata coach will be hoping his side can carry their positive preparations into Monday’s encounter against a Zambia team determined to demonstrate its progress on the continental stage.
Zambia will once again be led by Andrea Cristoforetti, who takes charge at his second consecutive TotalEnergies CAF Futsal Africa Cup of Nations after guiding Zambia to the 2024 finals in Rabat.
The Zambian coach believes his side are better equipped for the challenge this time around, following a preparation period that included two friendly matches against Egypt.
“We had two friendly games against Egypt, which gave us a good indication of our level, more or less. I can tell from my experience of many, many years, from when I was a player, that Libya has always been a team that plays in the World Cup, giving problems with a structured, solid game of futsal,” said Cristoforetti.
“We are truly curious to see where we stand against these two North African teams. This is our situation.”
Cristoforetti also highlighted the experience gained by his players since the previous edition, expressing confidence that Zambia can take another step forward in their development.
“The preparation went pretty well. We have some of the players, like our captain, with experience now, and we know what to expect in a competition like this.
“So, I think we will be a little more ready than last time, in trying again to fill that gap, that huge gap we had against more experienced teams. As Zambia has been growing throughout these four years, I think this will be one more step in that growth,” he concluded.
With Libya seeking to build on their podium finish and Zambia aiming to measure their progress against one of the continent’s established futsal sides, the opening fixture promises an intriguing start to the race for the African title.