Seychelles and Mauritania bow out of FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, Seychelles 2025™

Seychelles and Mauritania played their final games at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, Seychelles 2025™ on Monday as they ended their pool play winless, but there was some cause for celebration for the hosts.

Seychelles lost 10-2 to Japan in Group A at the Paradise Arena, while Mauritania were beaten 9-5 by Paraguay and also finish bottom of Group B.

There were many positives for Seychelles from the tournament, not least from Lienal Bibi, who became the third-youngest goalscorer in FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup™ history when he drew his side level at 1-1 against Japan.

Bibi is 16 years, 259 days, behind only South Africa’s Ricardo Francisco (16 years, 130 days) and Nigeria’s Azeez Abu (15 years, 170 days) as the youngest ever scorer at the global finals.

In fact, the top six youngest scorers at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup™ are all from Africa.  
Teenager Bibi added a second to level again for Seychelles at 2-2, but Japan proved too strong in the second and third periods to pull away on the scoreboard.

Cheikh Belkheir scored a hat-trick for Mauritania to go with goals from Ahmedou Bilal and Mohamed Diallo as they gave Paraguay a scare in a thrilling contest.

The game was level at 4-4 into the third period, before the South Americans took control of the game and finished the stronger. Both teams had already been eliminated before kick-off.

Belarus defeated Guatemala 12-3 in their Group A clash earlier on Monday for the joint fourth biggest ever win at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup™. It is behind the all-time biggest win when Portugal defeated Solomon Islands 14-2 in 2006.

Ihar Bryshtsel and Anatoliy Ryabko scored four goals each for Belarus, with the latter managing three bicycle-kicks in the process.

Belarus top Group A and advance to the quarter-finals with second-placed Japan.

Portugal edged Iran to top spot in Group B with a 7-5 win in the final game on Monday.
Belarus play Iran in the knock-out rounds, while Portugal will meet Japan.