Morocco’s beach soccer national team has moved within one victory of its first Arab Beach Soccer Cup title after defeating hosts Egypt 3-2 in a closely fought semi-final in Port Said.
The Atlas Lions secured their place in the final of the 2026 competition on Sunday, November 8, producing a determined performance against an Egyptian side backed by home support.
Three Moroccan players found the net in the encounter, with Zouhair El Jebbary, Amine El Bidouri and Idriss Ghanam scoring the goals that sent their country through to the championship match.
Egypt responded twice through Hassan Hussein and Karim Shehata, but the hosts could not find a third equaliser. Morocco held on to their advantage to eliminate the defending champions and keep their hopes of lifting the trophy alive.
The result also brought an end to Egypt’s attempt to win the competition for a third consecutive time.
Morocco overcome Egypt in tense semi-final
The semi-final at Port Said Beach Soccer Stadium was closely contested, with Morocco repeatedly having to withstand Egypt’s attempts to get back into the game.
The North African rivals exchanged goals as the hosts worked to overturn Morocco’s advantage. However, the Moroccan team managed to regain the lead and protect it until the final whistle.
El Jebbary, El Bidouri and Ghanam were responsible for Morocco’s three goals, while Hassan Hussein and Shehata registered Egypt’s two responses.
The victory was particularly significant because it came against the tournament hosts, who were seeking to use home advantage to reach another final.
For Morocco, the result represented another step forward in a campaign that has seen the team combine attacking quality with the ability to compete in difficult matches.
Atlas Lions maintain unbeaten run
Morocco entered the semi-final with a strong record from the group stage of the fifth Arab Beach Soccer Cup.
The team, managed by Brazilian coach Marco Octavio, began its campaign with a 7-4 win over Lebanon before recording an emphatic 7-1 victory against Libya.
Their final group fixture against Oman proved more demanding. The two sides finished regular play level at 5-5, forcing the contest to be decided by a penalty shootout. Morocco prevailed 4-2 to complete the group stage at the top of Group B.
Those results gave the Atlas Lions seven points and confirmed their position as one of the competition’s leading teams.
The victory over Egypt extended Morocco’s unbeaten run and placed them one match away from a historic achievement in the tournament.
The team’s progress has also highlighted the contribution of its attacking players, who have produced goals across different stages of the competition.
Mauritania stand between Morocco and the trophy
Morocco will face Mauritania in the final after the latter defeated Lebanon 5-3 in the other semi-final on Sunday.
Mauritania have also enjoyed an impressive tournament. Their group-stage campaign included a notable 4-1 victory over Egypt, demonstrating their ability to challenge some of the competition’s strongest sides.
Their win against Lebanon secured a place in the final and set up an all-North African contest for the title.
The championship match is scheduled for Monday, November 9, at Porto Said Beach Soccer Stadium in Egypt. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation announced an 11 a.m. GMT kick-off.
Both teams will be pursuing their first Arab Beach Soccer Cup crown, meaning the competition is guaranteed to produce a new champion.
For Morocco, the final offers an opportunity to turn an impressive run into a major continental and regional achievement. Mauritania, meanwhile, will be looking to complete their own successful campaign by overcoming the Atlas Lions.
Egypt’s title defence comes to an end
Egypt’s defeat means the hosts will not add another trophy to their record in this edition of the competition.
The Egyptian national team had entered the semi-finals after finishing second in Group A. Its group-stage results included victories over Saudi Arabia and Iraq, although a 4-1 defeat against Mauritania prevented the hosts from finishing at the top.
Egypt’s history in the competition made its elimination particularly notable. The country won the 2014 edition and successfully defended the title in 2023, while Saudi Arabia also has two championships from the previous four editions.
The 2026 tournament, which began on November 5 in Port Said, features eight national teams competing for the regional title.
With Egypt and Saudi Arabia previously sharing the honours, Morocco and Mauritania now have the opportunity to establish themselves as the competition’s newest champions.
Morocco seek historic beach soccer success
Morocco’s qualification for the final provides another opportunity to strengthen the country’s profile in beach soccer.
The national side has demonstrated consistency throughout the tournament, progressing through the group stage without a defeat before overcoming Egypt in the knockout rounds.
However, the semi-final victory will count for little if the team cannot reproduce that performance against Mauritania.
The final is expected to test Morocco’s attacking organisation and defensive discipline against an opponent that has also shown strong form in Port Said.
With the trophy within reach, the Atlas Lions will be hoping to finish their campaign on a high and secure a first Arab Beach Soccer Cup title.
A victory would give Morocco a new achievement in the sport and reward a campaign built on impressive scoring performances and resilience in closely contested matches.
