The Moroccan Blind Football National Team bolstered its blind football hegemony on the continent at the 2019 IBSA Blind Football African Championships, adding another title to its growing silverware cabinet.

A 5-1 victory secured Morocco’s fourth African title, increasing an unbeaten run throughout all four editions of the competition to 16 games.

Mali progressed to the final after finishing second in group B, winning two out of three matches in the group stages to qualify for the semi-final and defeat Nigeria 6-0. Morocco meanwhile secured victories over Mali, Niger, Egypt, and Ivory Coast, scoring a total of twenty goals and only conceding two against Mali in their first group stage match.

Caption: the Moroccan team celebrates after victory.

Morocco defeated Mali 5-2 in the third match on match day 1 and had no issues in the final where they renewed their rivalry. Morocco’s young striker Zouhir Snisla stole the show with an early brace in the first-half, along with Abderrazak Hattab scoring an 8-metre penalty to make it 3-0 at half time. Snisla emerged again and scored another early in the second-half to complete his hattrick. Mali brought a goal back through a penalty, but Morocco scored a fifth to end Mali’s chances of a comeback.

In addition to the title, Morocco also takes the last football 5-a-side qualification slot for the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, joining hosts, Japan, reigning Paralympic champions Brazil, Argentina, China, Iran, Spain, and France.

Ivory Coast achieved bronze after a 2-0 victory over Nigeria. Konan David scored Ivory Coast’s first goal 6 minutes into the game and Djezou Dieudonne scored the second in the second-half. Nigeria penetrated Ivory Coast’s goal but could not convert any of their chances, including a penalty before full-time.

Caption: Ivory Coast celebrates Bronze following a 2-0 victory over Nigeria.

Final Standings

1 Morocco
2 Mali
3 Ivory Coast
4 Nigeria
5 Cameroon
6 Egypt
7 Niger
8 Libya
 
The 2019 IBSA Blind Football African Championships were hosted by Bina Foundation in Enugu, Nigeria.

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Caption: poster for the championships.