Online Reporter
Fungai Muderere, Zimpapers Sports Hub
THE Zimbabwe Futsal National League president Philani Banda says frantic work is underway to assemble a technical team that will lead the country’s flagship side into the TotalEnergies Caf Futsal Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 Qualifiers.
For the first time, Zimbabwe’s futsal national team has been granted permission to step onto a major continental stage, a moment Banda describes as both historic and urgent.
The draw for the qualifiers was conducted last Thursday in Rabat, Morocco, as preparations for Africa’s premier men’s futsal tournament gathered pace.
“We have already welcomed the draw and we have already hit the ground running,” said Banda.
“We have been working hard in trying to get who would be ideal coaches to lead our team in our quest for glory in our maiden campaign at this level as a country. We have since recommended one head coach, two assistants, goalkeepers coach, team manager, technical advisor and team medic to Zifa,” said Banda.
While the financial side of the campaign will be handled by the country’s football mother body, Zifa, Banda said they were also appealing to the corporate world and well-wishers to come on board and lend their support.
“We are expecting full feedback from Zifa by Monday (tomorrow) or Tuesday,” he said.
A total of 18 national teams will contest the qualification campaign, which will be played over two home and away knockout rounds. Seven teams will qualify for the final tournament, joining host nation and defending champions Morocco.
The teams in the qualifiers are Algeria, Angola, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Libya, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Mauritania, Mozambique, Namibia, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe were drawn against Tanzania in the preliminary round, with the winner over the two legs set to face Cote d’Ivoire.
The Warriors of the court will play the first leg against Tanzania on January 23, with the return fixture scheduled five days later.
The qualification process will be staged over two rounds. Eight teams will compete in the first round, while 10 received byes.
In the second round, the four first round winners will join the 10 exempted teams to battle for seven places at the finals.
All ties will be played over two legs, home and away, with aggregate scores deciding who advances.
The Fifa Futsal Men’s World Ranking was used to determine exemptions and seedings for the draw.
The eight lowest ranked teams, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Kenya, Namibia, Senegal, South Sudan, Tanzania and Zimbabwe, were placed into two pots and drawn into four fixtures.
The 10 teams that progressed directly to the second round are Algeria, Angola, Côte d’Ivoire, Egypt, Libya, Ghana, Guinea, Mauritania, Mozambique and Zambia, alongside the four first round winners.
Based on the Fifa rankings, Egypt, Libya, Angola and Cote d’Ivoire are the four highest ranked teams and will be drawn to face first round winners, with the higher ranked side hosting the second leg.
Caf Futsal Africa Cup of Nations draw in full
Cape Verde, Senegal v Egypt
Namibia, Kenya v Libya
Cameroon, South Sudan v Angola
Zimbabwe, Tanzania v Cote d’voire
Ghana v Zambia
Mauritania v Mozambique
Guinea v Algeria
