Beach Soccer in Africa has gained prominence in past years compared to what was obtainable 10 to 15 years ago. In addition to the Beach Soccer African Cup of Nations (BSAFCON), club football is taking centre stage across the continent.
Efforts of the African Beach Soccer Union (ABSU) and Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW) are yielding desirable fruits. Lets take a look at the development of the game on the continent in the year 2023.
Club Beach Soccer
Leagues springing up across Africa, in Ghana, Ada Assurance clinched the 2022/2023 Ghana Beach Soccer League with a 6-5 penalty win over Cheetah after regulation time ended 4-4.
Senegal’s Ngor claimed the 2023 National Beach Soccer Championship with a 4-3 win against Mbao in the final match. The champions also smiled home with the prize money of 150,000 Francs.
Nigeria, home of Africa’s top-ranked team Kebbi, reclaimed the 2023 Nigeria Beach Soccer League ahead of Kwara state-based side, Nmanko Patigi. Kebbi won nine out of their ten games, only losing a match against debutant and local rival, Kebbi United BSC.
Uganda, the only African country with a women’s beach soccer league, crowned Asubo Gafford WFC as 20023 Women’s Beach Soccer champions after a 7-4 win over Gomba Queens in the final.
The growth of beach soccer clubs in Africa is expected to spread to other countries in coming years as the continent expects a beach soccer inter-club competition.
International Appearance
Nigerian champions, Kebbi BSC participated at the 2023 World Winners Cup in Alghero, Italy. The team reached the Round of 16, becoming the first African side to achieve the feat.
After two losses to Copenhagen BSC (4-2) and eventual winners, ASD Napoli (7-4), Kebbi recorded one of the biggest wins of the tournament with a 15-1 victory over BS Avion (Slovakia) which sealed a place in the Round of 16.
The team bowed out of the tournament with an 8-1 loss to Bahia de Marazzon (Spain) in the Round of 16. Six African clubs were expected to participate in the tournament, including Malika BS (Senegal), MBAO Beach Envi (Senegal), JKT (Tanzania), Mutoola BSC (Uganda), and Blue Eagles (Malawi) but could not make it due to visa challenges. Meanwhile, Senegalese side, Yoff participated in the second edition of the Moscow International tournament in October.
The global prominence of Africa’s beach soccer also ensured that Seychelles will host the 2025 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup from 1 to 11 May 2025.
Capacity Building
The collaboration between ABSU and BSWW facilitated several workshops to boost the game on the continent. Morocco also organised a beach soccer workshop held in November, 2023, ahead of their national league. High point of this was the presence of Madjer who was on ground adding value to the technical sessions.
Earlier in the year, 19 coaches graduated in Uganda after completing a four-day beach soccer coaching course held at the Federation of Uganda Football Association (FUFA) Technical Centre facilitated by FUFA Instructor Bashir Mutyaba.
National Teams
In September, the national beach soccer team of Morocco won a bronze medal in Greece at the Mediterranean Beach Games amidst the country’s unfortunate earthquake incidence. The North African side also won gold at the 2023 African Beach Games over African champions, Senegal in a 4-3 penalty shoot out in the final after a 3-3 draw in regulation time. While Tanzania got a 9-3 victory over Libya to win the bronze medal .
In Mauritania, the country hosted the Nouakchott International Beach Soccer Championship and won the title ahead of Morocco and Saudi Arabia.
Challenges and Prospects
With the women’s beach soccer gaining prominence in Europe, other African countries need to join Uganda to promote and develop the women’s side, This would pave way for Africa in FIFA Women’s Beach Soccer tournament, when it eventually comes to reality.
Federations and league organisers also need to collaborate with corporate bodies for sponsorship to give it more value it deserves, especially in terms of prize money.
More African clubs need to work towards participating at BSWW-organised tournaments to make it to the rankings. Only Kebbi BSC appears on the current ranking as a result of other clubs not participating in global tournaments.
More competitions like the FA Cup and Super Cups also need to be included in the beach soccer club spheres to foster the participation of more clubs in the game.
As we look forward to 2024 BSAFCON, it is time for teams to prepare for the tournaments ahead in 2024, in particular, we wish Senegal and Egypt best of luck at the 2024 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, UAE 2024
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
