Beach Soccer: Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers (BSAfcon)   |23 July 2022

Photo of the Seychelles team pre-selection taken prior to final selection announced last night (Photo: Contributed)

Seychelles square off against Madagascar this afternoon

Chasing a spot in the last eight of the Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations, the Seychelles national selection will this afternoon go head-to-head with neighbours Madagascar in the first leg of the qualifiers at the Roche Caïman beach soccer arena.

Fourteen nations will battle to determine the best seven who will be joining hosts Mozambique in the main stage which will take place from October 21-30.

The Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations (BSAfcon) is the main championship for beach soccer in Africa, contested between senior men's national teams who are members of the Confederation of African Football (Caf).

It is the sport's version of the better known Africa Cup of Nations in association football.

The qualifying campaign is organised into two legs, one home and one away match, to be played this weekend and between August 5 and 7.

For the qualifiers, title-holders Senegal will face Cameroon with the first leg taking place in the Indomitable Lions den before a return leg in the den of the Teranga Lions, while after missing the last competition, Nigeria will be making their comeback in the continental showdown playing against Libya.

Morocco will see their fate decided with a double header with Côte d’Ivoire, while the Comoros will play against Uganda.

The Black Sharks of Ghana will play against the Sand Pharaohs of Egypt, and Malawi will clash against Tanzania for a spot in Mozambique.

The players selected to defend the national jersey this afternoon are Damien Adela, Travis Cadeau (goalkeepers), Mike Balette, Robinson Cadeau, Ryan Servina, Mickhael Jumaye (defenders), Terrence Amade, Martin William, Andy Mougal, Hansel Cœur de Lion, Davyan Houreau, Medrick Jean Baptiste, Lordy Sinon and Ronny Bamboche.

The coaches are Alpha Baldé, Travis Julienne and Edmond Robert, while Roddy Rath is the team manager. Wilna Figaro is the team’s medical personnel.

Today’s match will kick off at 4.30pm and tickets cost R50.

The winners of the championship are crowned continental champions, while the tournament also acts as the qualification route for African nations to the upcoming edition of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (Fifa) Beach Soccer World Cup.

The championship was established in 2006 when Fifa made it a requirement for all confederations to begin holding qualification tournaments to determine the best national team(s) in their region and hence those who would proceed to represent their continent in the upcoming World Cup (previously, nations were simply invited to play without having to earn their place).

Fifa currently allocate Africa two berths at the World Cup and hence the top two teams (the winners and runners-up) qualify to the World Cup finals.

Roland Duval