Africa’s representatives at the upcoming FIFA Futsal World Cup in Uzbekistan have been handed tough draws, making their path to the knockout stages a formidable challenge.
The draw, held at the UNESCO World Heritage site of Registan Square in Samarkand, set the stage for a series of high-stakes matches for Morocco, Libya, and Angola.
Morocco, currently ranked 14th in the world, find themselves in Group E with defending champions Portugal, hosts Tajikistan, and Panama. While avoiding futsal powerhouses like Brazil, Spain, and Argentina offers some relief, the Portuguese team presents a significant challenge.
Morocco’s Lions will need to muster their best performance to advance, and their matches against Panama and Tajikistan will be crucial in determining their fate.
Libya faces an even stiffer challenge in Group D, where they will compete against Spain, the dominant force in the last two World Cups, alongside Kazakhstan and New Zealand, the latter making their tournament debut.
Spain’s pedigree in futsal is well-known, and their presence makes Group D particularly daunting. Libya must capitalize on their opportunities against Kazakhstan and New Zealand if they hope to progress.
Angola, making their third appearance at the World Cup, have been drawn into Group C with record five-time champions Argentina, dark horses Ukraine, and newcomers Afghanistan.
Argentina’s storied history and Ukraine’s consistent performances in international futsal competitions make this a challenging group for Angola. Despite this, Angola will be looking to defy the odds and aim for their first advancement past the group stages.
For the African teams, the primary goal will be to surpass Egypt’s quarter-final achievement in 2016, the continent’s best showing to date. The burden of leading the African charge falls on Morocco, with expectations high for a deep run into the tournament’s latter stages.
Libya and Angola, meanwhile, will be aiming to create their own upsets and make significant strides on the global stage.
The tournament begins on September 14, culminating in the final on September 28 in Tashkent. As the countdown to kick-off continues, fans and analysts alike will be closely watching how the African trio navigate their challenging paths in pursuit of futsal glory.
Groups
Group A: Uzbekistan, Netherlands, Paraguay, Costa Rica
Group B: Brazil, Cuba, Croatia, Thailand
Group C: Argentina, Ukraine, Afghanistan, Angola
Group D: Spain, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Libya
Group E: Portugal, Panama, Tajikistan, Morocco
Group F: IR Iran, Venezuela, Guatemala, France
Photo: CAF Online
