TotalEnergies CAF Futsal AFCON - Morocco's Borite: Our focus on keeping the standards

Defending champions Morocco finished the TotalEnergies CAF Futsal Africa Cup of Nations group stage as Group A winners after beating Libya 6-0 on Friday night at Salle Moulay Abdellah in Rabat.

Captain Soufiane El Mesrar produced a Man of the Match performance scoring a hat-trick to see off their North African neighbors. Othmane Elidrissi added a brace, and Bilal Bakkali scored the other goal to complete the rout.

Algeria join the hosts in the semifinals as runners-up following their action-packed 7-4 win over Zambia at Salle Ibn Yassine, played at the same time.

Speaking after the match, Borite Soufiane said the Atlas Lions wanted to show their level had not dropped.

"We were already qualified after the second game, but today we tried to show that we are staying at the same level," he told CAFOnline. "The important games are still coming. We will prepare for the semifinal.

“We still don't know who we will face. Of course, we will watch tomorrow's game and then start our preparation, because what is coming is the most important."

The Holland based star acknowledged that Libya, who needed a result to stay alive, made it a tough contest.

"For them it was a decisive game, so they tried to give everything," he said. "In the end, we managed to win, and that's the most important thing."

On the title race, he struck a confident but measured tone. "We are confident, but we cannot be overconfident. Our main objective is to win the title.

“We are trying our best and will keep our focus game by game. First the semifinal, then the final, and let's hope we keep the trophy here in Morocco.”

Borite also praised Morocco’s potential opponents in the last four of the tournament.

"Both (Egypt and Angola) teams are strong, especially after what they showed in the first two games. They won with big scores and didn't concede any goals. We need to be well prepared for either of them."

Chioquetta: Morocco among Top Four in the World - Chioquetta

Meanwhile, Libya’s assistant coach Marco Antonio Chioquetta was gracious in defeat and full of praise for the hosts when he spoke to CAFOnline.

"Morocco is a very good team. In my opinion, they are among the top four in the world, and they are well prepared," he said.

“They have stayed together for a long time, and we have only just started working. The process is long and we need to improve a lot of things.

“But all the players gave their best in the game, and we are very happy with their performance."

Chioquetta pointed to the opening loss as the turning point of Mediterranean Knights campaign.

“The problem was the first game, which we lost against Zambia," he stressed. "Today, congratulations to Morocco, they played a good game, and we respect them."

He also reflected on the draw with Algeria, a match his side felt they should have won.

"The second game, against Algeria. We played very well. We controlled the game and deserved to win it, but some things didn't go our way."

Against the three-time champions, he admitted, the gap was clear. "It was a different reality. We saw how much we need to improve and that the way is long, but we know how to plan for the future.“

The Brazilian coach, who was experiencing African Futsal for the first time, was impressed by what he saw in Morocco.

“It's very good. I'm very surprised. I'm from Brazil, and this is my first time in Africa. It was a big surprise, especially Angola. Morocco is a very good team, and we know Egypt too."

"The organization of the event is also very good, very professional. I'm very satisfied, and I hope futsal grows a lot in this part of the world in the future."