Octet hunt for Futsal crown in Morocco
Since the first edition in 1996, the Total Futsal Africa Cup of Nations, which until 2015 was called the African Futsal Championship, has seen the best of the best in the continent compete for the top prize.
Egypt are the record champions of the Futsal AFCON having won it three times in the first edition in 1996, 2000 and 2004. Libya won it in 2008 while Morocco are the defending champions having won it in 2016 when they beat Egypt in the final in South Africa.
A few days before the start of the 2020 edition set to take place in Laâyoune, Morocco, from 28 January to 7, CAFOnline.com takes a look at the participating teams and what to expect from them.
Group A: Morocco, Equatorial Guinea, Mauritius, Libya
Defending champions Morocco qualified automatically as hosts and will look to keep the crown in front of their home fans. Libya, bronze medalists in 2000 and champions in 2008 will also be a side keen to upset the balances and challenge for the crown from this group.
Mauritius were late additions into the tournament having been drafted in to replace South Africa and together with Equatorial Guinea, they will be making their maiden bows in the tournament.
Group B: Egypt, Guinea, Angola, Mozambique
The Egyptians have been dominant in the Futsal Cup of Nations having played in every final at the competition since its inception, winning three of them and losing two; once to Libya on penalties and in 2016 going down 3-2 to Morocco.
Two of their titles, in 1996 and 2000 came in front of their home fans. The Pharaohs remain the only country to win the title more than once.
The Egyptians were exempted from playing the qualifiers as they were the highest ranked African country from the 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup.
They will face stern competition from Mozambique who finished third at the last edition in South Africa in 2016 and they will be out to make an improvement and look at a slot in the final.
Debutants Guinea and Angola complete the group.
Apart from contesting for the title, the Futsal Cup of Nations will also offer the top three a ticket to the FIFA Futsal World Cup to be held in Lithuania from September 12 to October 4, 2020.