The qualification route to the 2026 CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal has been set, with 16 nations competing for seven places alongside the hosts and reigning champions.
Senegal qualify automatically for the eight-team finals, which will be staged from 7 to 15 November 2026. The remaining places will be decided through two rounds of home-and-away qualifiers beginning in September.
First round begins in September
The opening round will involve four teams in two ties. Mauritius face Angola, while Kenya take on Libya.
The first legs are scheduled between 18 and 20 September, with the return matches to follow between 25 and 27 September.
The winner of Mauritius versus Angola will advance to face Egypt in the second round. The winner of Kenya versus Libya will meet Morocco.
Nigeria and Ghana drawn together
The second-round draw has produced several notable regional contests, including a West African meeting between Nigeria and Ghana.
Côte d’Ivoire will face Mauritania, Seychelles take on Malawi in an all-Southern African contest, Tanzania meet Mozambique, and Burundi face Uganda.
The second-round first legs will be played from 9 to 11 October, with return fixtures scheduled for 16 to 18 October. The seven winners will join Senegal at the continental finals.
Senegal defend home title
Senegal enter the tournament as both hosts and reigning champions, reinforcing the country’s position as one of Africa’s strongest beach soccer nations.
Hosting the finals gives Senegal an opportunity to defend its title without navigating qualification, while the remaining contenders must come through a relatively short but unforgiving knockout route.
The home-and-away format also adds logistical demands that are different from tournament football. Teams must prepare for travel, varying beach conditions and short turnaround periods while maintaining the specialist fitness and technical demands of the format.
Beach soccer continues to widen its African footprint
The draw also highlights the geographical spread of the competition. Teams from West, East, North and Southern Africa are represented, reflecting the growth of beach soccer beyond the countries that have traditionally dominated the sport.
For federations, qualification offers more than a route to a continental title. Beach soccer provides an additional international platform for player development and national-team competition, while major tournaments can help build visibility for a format that receives less coverage than the conventional eleven-a-side game.
CAF says kick-off times and venues for the qualifying ties will be announced separately.
Source
Confederation of African Football, 26 August 2026.
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