Defending champions Morocco began their 2026 CAF Futsal Africa Cup of Nations campaign with an impressive 4–0 victory over Algeria in Rabat, demonstrating their determination to capture a fourth consecutive continental title.
Morocco took control of the match in the 10th minute when Younes M’Kasri opened the scoring, giving the hosts an early advantage.
Youssef Jouad then delivered an outstanding individual performance, scoring three goals to complete a hat-trick and secure a convincing opening victory.
Morocco Demonstrates Continental Strength
The result reinforces Morocco’s position as one of Africa’s leading futsal nations.
The defending champions entered the competition seeking to extend their continental dominance, supported by an established futsal-development programme and experience in major international competitions.
For Algeria, the match represented a challenging introduction to the tournament as the country made its first appearance in the CAF Futsal Africa Cup of Nations.
Despite the defeat, participation provides Algeria with an opportunity to gain valuable international experience and develop its competitiveness in the sport.
Attention Turns to Zambia
Morocco will look to maintain its winning momentum when it faces Zambia on October 14.
Another strong performance would strengthen the defending champions’ campaign as they pursue a fourth consecutive African title.
The opening victory also sends a message to competing nations that Morocco remains a formidable contender.
The central question is whether any challenger can disrupt Morocco’s dominance and prevent the defending champions from claiming another continental championship.