2021 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations

The 2021 Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations was the fourth edition of the Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations (BSAFCON),[1] the premier beach soccer championship in Africa contested by men's national teams who are members of the Confederation of African Football (CAF). Originally organised by Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW) under the title FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup CAF qualifier[2] (informally known as CAF Beach Soccer Championship), in 2015, CAF became organisers and began using the BSAFCON title to which the competition was officially renamed the next year.[3] Overall, this was the 10th edition of the event.

2021 Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations
2021 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup CAF qualifier
Tournament details
Host countrySenegal
CitySaly
Dates23–29 May
Teams7 (from 1 confederation)
Venue(s)1 (in 1 host city)
Final positions
Champions Senegal (6th title)
Runners-up Mozambique
Third place Morocco
Fourth place Uganda
Tournament statistics
Matches played14
Goals scored102 (7.29 per match)
Top scorer(s)Mozambique Nelson Manuel (10 goals)
Best player(s)Mozambique Nelson Manuel
Best goalkeeperSenegal Al Seyni Ndiaye
2018
2022

The tournament was due to take place in Jinja, Uganda between 23 and 29 November 2020.[4][5] However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic and rising water levels on the shores of Lake Victoria affecting the host beach, Uganda withdrew from hosting.[6] Senegal were subsequently chosen as the new hosts,[7] with the tournament rescheduled to take place from 23 to 29 May 2021,[8][9] in the city of Saly.[10]

The event also acted as the qualification route for African teams to the 2021 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Russia; the winners and runners-up qualified.

Senegal were the defending champions and successfully defended the title, after defeating Mozambique 4–1 in the final to secure their 6th title.

Qualification edit

2021 Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations qualification
Tournament details
Dates26 March – 10 April 2021
Teams12 (from 1 confederation)
Tournament statistics
Matches played4
Goals scored46 (11.5 per match)
2018
2022

The 2021 Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations qualifying round determined the eight teams that would compete in the final tournament in May 2021.

The fixtures were announced by CAF on 4 March 2021.[11] The matches were to be played on the weekends of 26–27 March and 9–10 April 2021. However, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a number of withdrawals.[12]

Qualification ties were played on a home-and-away, two-legged basis. If the sides were level on aggregate after the second leg, the away goals rule was applied, and if still level, the tie proceeded directly to a penalty shoot-out (no extra time played).[13]

Entrants edit

Fourteen teams entered the competition. The qualifying matches involved the lowest-ranked twelve entrants. The six winners of the ties qualified for the final tournament, joining two automatic qualifiers – Senegal, the hosts, and Egypt, the highest-ranked entrant based on the results of the previous edition.[11]

Nigeria, who had previously competed at every edition of the tournament and qualified for the World Cup from the last two championships, were unable to enter this year's tournament because the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had indefinitely barred the national team from competing following the team's "poor outing" at the 2019 World Cup.[14]

Round Teams entering round No. of teams
Qualification
12
Final tournament 2
Note: The numbers in parentheses show the African ranking of the teams at the time of the qualification round (out of 23 nations).[15]

Matches edit

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Libya   w/o[16]   Morocco
Seychelles   w/o[16]   Madagascar
Comoros   8–17   Mozambique 5–7 3–10
Burundi   9–12   Tanzania 3–8 6–4
Uganda   w/o[16]   Ghana
DR Congo   w/o[16]   Ivory Coast

Qualified teams edit

The following eight teams qualified for the final tournament:[16]

Team Appearance Previous best performance
  DR Congo 1st Debut
  Egypt 10th 3rd place (2006, 2011, 2016, 2018)
  Morocco 8th 3rd place (2013)
  Mozambique 4th 6th place (2009)
  Senegal (hosts; title holders) 9th Champions (2008, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018)
  Seychelles 2nd 8th place (2015)
  Tanzania 2nd 7th place (2018)
  Uganda 1st Debut

Draw edit

The draw to split the eight teams into two groups of four took place at 12:00 EGY (UTC+2) on 29 April 2021 in Cairo, Egypt. It was conducted by CAF Head of Competitions, Khaled Nasser.[16][17][18]

Initially, two teams were seeded and assigned to the head of the groups: to Group A, as the hosts, Senegal, and to Group B, as team ranked highest in the previous edition of the championship, Egypt. The other six teams were placed in a single pot. As each was drawn out, the placement of the teams alternated back and forth between Groups A and B.[16][17]

Venue edit

Location of Saly in Senegal

One venue was used to host all matches in the city of Saly.[10] The stadium was purpose-built; it was scheduled to be constructed between 11 and 17 May. It had a capacity of 1000, however, 500 was the maximum capacity in order to accommodate social distancing measures regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.[19]

Squads edit

Each squad contained up to 15 players.[20]

Group stage edit

The match schedule was originally released on 8 May.[21] The programme was revised on 20 May.[22]

Each team earns three points for a win in regulation time, two points for a win in extra time, one point for a win in a penalty shoot-out, and no points for a defeat. The top two teams from each group advance to the semi-finals.[13]

All times are local, GMT (UTC±0).

Group A edit

Pos Team Pld W W+ WP L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Senegal (H) 2 2 0 0 0 8 2 +6 6 Knockout stage
2   Uganda 2 1 0 0 1 5 8 −3 3
3   Tanzania 2 0 0 0 2 4 7 −3 0 5th place play-off
4   DR Congo[a] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Withdrew
Source: CAF
(H) Host
Notes:
  1. ^ DR Congo's withdrawal was announced on 20 May; the reasons for which were undisclosed.[22]
Senegal  Cancelled  DR Congo
Uganda  1–5  Senegal
  • Kawawulo  
Report
  • Fall   
  • Mendy   
  • Diatta  

Tanzania  3–4  Uganda
  • Jaruph   
  • Stephano  
Report
  • Kawakulo   
  • Byaruhanga  
  • Wasswa  

DR Congo  Cancelled  Tanzania

DR Congo  Cancelled  Uganda
Senegal  3–1  Tanzania
  • Sylla   
  • Fall  
Report
  • Stephano  

Group B edit

Pos Team Pld W W+ WP L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1   Mozambique 3 3 0 0 0 16 9 +7 9 Knockout stage
2   Morocco 3 2 0 0 1 10 6 +4 6
3   Egypt 3 1 0 0 2 20 13 +7 3 5th place play-off
4   Seychelles 3 0 0 0 3 6 24 −18 0
Source: CAF
Egypt  5–7  Mozambique
  • H. Paulo    
  • A. Elshahat   
Report
  • Manuel     
  • Rachide   
  • Fadil  
Morocco  5–1  Seychelles
  • Kerroum  
  • El Hadaoui  
  • Aboutalbi  
  • El Mahrouk  
  • Ghannam  
Report
  • Bamboche  

Mozambique  7–3  Seychelles
  • Manuel     
  • Yuran   
  • Rachide  
Report
  • Bamboche  
  • Autre  
  • Amade  

Seychelles  2–12  Egypt
  • Bamboche  
  • Gift  
Report
  • A. Elshahat  
  • Zezo  
  • H. Paulo    
  • H. Costa   
  • Mohamed   
  • Elshaffy   
  • Eslam  
Mozambique  2–1  Morocco
  • Manuel  
  • Rachide  
Report
  • El Ouariry  

Egypt  3–4  Morocco
  • H. Paulo  
  • Hassan. M  
  • A. Elshahat  
Report
  • Aboutalbi   
  • El Hadaoui  
  • Ghannam  

5th place play-off edit

The teams finishing in third place in the groups are knocked out of title-winning contention, receding to play in a consolation match to determine 5th and 6th place in the final standings.

Tanzania  2–4  Egypt
  • Said Kashiru  
  • Ismail Gambo  
Report
  • Eslam  
  • H. Paulo   
  • A. Nasser  

Knockout stage edit

The group winners and runners-up progress to the knockout stage to continue to compete for the title. 27 May was allocated as a rest day.

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
28 May
 
 
  Senegal3
 
29 May
 
  Morocco 2
 
  Senegal4
 
28 May
 
  Mozambique 1
 
  Mozambique 6
 
 
  Uganda 3
 
Third place play-off
 
 
29 May
 
 
  Morocco5
 
 
  Uganda 3

Semi finals edit

Winners qualify for the 2021 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.

Senegal  3–2  Morocco
  • Fall  
  • Diatta  
  • Mendy  
Report
  • Aboutalbi  
  • Iazal  
Mozambique  6–3  Uganda
  • Rachide      
  • Manuel  
Report
  • Lukooya  
  • Wasswa  
  • Lule  

Third place play-off edit

Morocco  5–3  Uganda
  • Aboutalbi   
  • El Hadaoui   
  • Abada  
Report
  • Wasswa   
  • Lukooya  

Final edit

Senegal  4–1  Mozambique
  • Mendy   
  • Diatta  
  • Boye  
Report
  • Dez  

Awards edit

Winners trophy edit

 2021 Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations
champions 
 
Senegal
Sixth title

Individual awards edit

The following awards were given at the conclusion of the tournament:[23]

Best player
  Nelson Manuel
Top scorer
  Nelson Manuel
10 goals
Best goalkeeper
  Al Seyni Ndiaye

Goalscorers edit

There were 102 goals scored in 14 matches, for an average of 7.29 goals per match.

10 goals

  •   Nelson Manuel

9 goals

  •   Hossam "Paulo" Hassan
  •   Rachide Sefo Smith

6 goals

  •   Rabi Aboutalbi

5 goals

  •   Raoul Mendy

4 goals

  •   Emmanuel Alex Wasswa
  •   Babacar Fall
  •   Ahmed Elshahat
  •   Nassim El Hadaoui

3 goals

  •   Isma Kawawulo
  •   Ninou Diatta
  •   Ronny Bamboche

2 goals

  •   Baker Lukooya
  •   Mamadou Sylla
  •   Jaruph Rajab Juma
  •   Stephano Walles Mapunda
  •   Haitham Mahsoub
  •   Mohamed Hassan
  •   Abdelrahman Hassan
  •   Eslam Salama
  •   Yuran Jose Malate
  •   Driss Ghannam

1 goal

  •   Rica Byaruhanga
  •   Paul Lule
  •   Pope Boye
  •   Kashiru Salumu Said
  •   Ismail Gambo
  •   Abdelaziz Abdelaziz
  •   Ahmed Fayed
  •   Hassane Hussein
  •   Fadil Ainadine
  •   Ramossete Cumbe
  •   Yassine Kerroum
  •   Kamal El Mahrouk
  •   Ismail El Ouariry
  •   Sami Iazal
  •   Yassir Abada
  •   Lorddy Autre
  •   Terence Amade
  •   Robinson Gift

Final standings edit

Qualified for the 2021 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup
Rank Team
    Senegal
    Mozambique
    Morocco
4   Uganda
5   Egypt
6   Tanzania
7   Seychelles

Qualified teams for FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup edit

The following two teams from CAF qualify for the 2021 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.

Team Qualified on Previous appearances in FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup1
only FIFA era (since 2005)
  Senegal 28 May 2021 7 (2007, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019)
  Mozambique 28 May 2021 0 (Debut)
1 Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.

References edit

  1. ^ "Futsal and Beach Soccer Committee holds meeting in Kampala". CAF. 27 March 2018. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  2. ^ Gaich, Rémi (11 January 2016). BSWW competitions / National teams. Barcelona: Beach Soccer Worldwide. pp. 14, 15, 19.
  3. ^ "CAF renames six competitions". Daily Post (Nigeria). 11 August 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
  4. ^ "AFCON 2020 Beach Soccer: Uganda wins hosting rights". kawowo.com. 30 November 2018. Retrieved 3 December 2018.
  5. ^ "Что? Где? Когда? Открываем все "чёрные ящики" сезона-2020!" (in Russian). Beach Soccer Russia. 20 January 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
  6. ^ "Uganda withdraws from hosting 2020 Africa Beach soccer Cup of Nations". Footballghana.com. 6 July 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  7. ^ "Decisions of CAF Executive Committee meeting – 10 September 2020". CAF. 10 September 2020.
  8. ^ "The Executive Committee proposes Issa Hayatou as Honorary President of CAF and approves several guidelines for good governance". CAF. 10 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations, Senegal 2021: Registration open". CAF. 17 December 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2021.
  10. ^ a b "LA PROCHAINE CAN DE BEACH SOCCER À SALY PORTUDAL (PRÉSIDENT FÉDÉRATION)" (in French). Senegalese Press Agency. 15 April 2021. Archived from the original on 30 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  11. ^ a b "Beach Soccer AFCON, Senegal 2020 – Qualifying matches revealed". CAF. 4 March 2021.
  12. ^ "Beach Soccer AFCON - Pawasa's Tanzania aiming for the last four". CAF. 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Regulations of the African Beach Soccer Championship" (PDF). Confédération Africaine de Football. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-08-17. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  14. ^ "Nigeria miss first ever Africa Beach Soccer Nations Cup". Sport News Africa. 4 March 2021. Archived from the original on 26 May 2021. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  15. ^ "Overall World Ranking – Africa - CAF". Beach Soccer Worldwide. 5 March 2021. Archived from the original on 2020-11-20. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g "Beach Soccer AFCON, Senegal 2021: Seychelles qualify after Madagascar withdrawal". Confederation of African Football. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  17. ^ a b "Draw procedure: Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations, Senegal 2021". Confederation of African Football. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
  18. ^ "Thrilling encounters in Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations, Senegal 2021 draw". Confederation of African Football. 29 April 2021. Retrieved 29 April 2021.
  19. ^ "CAN Beach Soccer Sénégal 2021: "Un stade d'une capacité de 1000 places sera livré le 17 mai prochain"" (in French). wiwsport.com. 5 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  20. ^ "Teams". CAF. Retrieved 31 May 2021.
  21. ^ "Beach Soccer AFCON, Senegal 2021 – Full Schedule". Confederation of African Football. 8 May 2021. Retrieved 19 May 2021.
  22. ^ a b "Beach Soccer AFCON - DR Congo withdraws, schedule revamped". Confederation of African Football. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
  23. ^ "Beach Soccer AFCON - Senegal Champions for 3rd consecutive time". Confederation of African Football. 29 May 2021. Retrieved 31 May 2021.

External links edit