Morocco’s national beach soccer team, the Atlas Lions, will play two friendly matches, on Wednesday and Thursday, against Mauritania ahead of the upcoming sixth Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), scheduled in Egypt from October 19 to 26.
The Atlas Lions are currently undergoing an intensive training program at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Salé, near Rabat, to refine their overall strategies and performance in the lead-up to the continental tournament.
Morocco placed in a competitive group (A) and will be facing Egypt (the host nation), Tanzania, and Ghana.
Group B features Senegal (the defending champions), along with Mozambique, Malawi, and Mauritania.
The national team’s participation will mark Morocco’s sixth appearance at the AFCON. It advanced to the semi-finals in 2015 and 2016 and secured bronze medals in 2021 and 2022.
The Moroccan team ranked in fourth place in both 2016 and 2018.
The tournament is a qualifying stage for the upcoming sixth World Cup scheduled in the Seychelles.
Lineup for the double-header:
1. Yassir Abada
2. M’Hamed Manar
3. Radouane Ennaciri
4. Amine El Bidouri
5. Zouhair Jabbary
6. Badr El Kraichly
7. Reda Zahraoui
8. Driss Ghannam
9. Anouar El Abassi
10. Adnan Oubahri
11. Ibrahim Abgali
12. Ali El Khdym
13. Mustapha Tais
14. Souhail Bessak
15. Mohamed Essahli