Ghana and Angola are among the eight nations confirmed for the 2026 CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations, which will take place in Senegal from 7 to 15 November. The final field brings together established contenders and a first-time participant as the hosts prepare to defend a title they have dominated for a decade.
Eight teams confirmed
The Confederation of African Football confirmed on 21 October that Angola, Ghana, Malawi, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique and Uganda qualified to join host nation Senegal. Sixteen countries competed for seven qualifying places. Angola will make its debut in the continental finals.
Senegal’s remarkable run
Senegal have won the previous five editions, taking the title in 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022 and 2024. The hosts will attempt to extend that streak in front of home supporters. Their record makes them the benchmark for the tournament, although past results do not determine the outcome of a new competition.
Ghana’s route to the finals
Ghana secured qualification by overcoming Nigeria, an important result for a side seeking to establish itself against strong regional competition. CAF also confirmed that Mauritania recovered from a first-leg deficit to eliminate Côte d’Ivoire. Angola progressed against Egypt, the hosts of the 2024 edition, while Mozambique overcame Tanzania and Uganda advanced past Burundi.
A wider competitive field
Angola’s first appearance adds a new storyline to the tournament. Morocco and Malawi qualified with comfortable aggregate results against Libya and Seychelles respectively, according to CAF. These outcomes show the breadth of participating nations, although qualification margins are not a reliable forecast of performance in the finals.
What beach soccer demands
Beach soccer differs substantially from the conventional eleven-a-side game. Its playing surface, smaller teams and rapid transitions reward technical control, improvisation and fitness. National teams also need consistent preparation and competitive opportunities to develop specialist skills.
What comes next
With qualification complete, attention turns to preparations and the final tournament programme. Senegal will carry the weight of expectations as five-time defending champions, while Ghana, Angola and the other qualifiers will seek to challenge that record. The competition has not yet begun, and no final-stage results should be inferred from the qualifying matches.
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