Morocco was crowned IBSA Blind Football African Champions on Sunday following an 8-1 victory over Mali. The final was played in front of a large crowd at a change of venue, Tira Chapéu, in Praia, Cape Verde.

Morocco went all out on the attack in the first half and scored four goals against Mali. Mali returned to the second-half seeking revenge on the African champions and striker Koné scored an 8m penalty to provide a comeback. Morocco however crushed any hopes of a comeback by converting another four goals again to win the African Championships for the third successive time.

As a result of reaching the Final, Mali and Morocco both booked their place in the IBSA Blind Football World Championships in Madrid in June next year.

The 3rd-4th place play-off match between Egypt and Cape Verde was also played at the Tira Chapéu on Saturday, where both teams fought their hardest to achieve a podium finish.

Amilton de Jesus Pereira created history when he scored Cape Verde’s first ever goal at the African Championship in the fourth minute to take a 1-0 lead against Egypt. Egypt reacted with two quick goals, but the hosts hit back with a penalty to make it 2-2 at the half-time interval. Egypt were the dominant side in the second half and scored three goals to confirm a 5-2 win and finish third in the African Blind Football Championships. 

Caption: the Cape Verde team salutes its supporters.

In addition to winning the African Championships, Moroccan striker Abderrazak Hattab was the tournament’s top goalscorer with sixteen goals and he was awarded Player of the Tournament.

Morocco's goalkeeper, Samir Bara, was honoured with Goalkeeper of the Tournament, while the Fair Play Award was given to hosts Cape Verde.

2017 IBSA Blind Football African Championships final standings
 
1st – Morocco
2nd – Mali
3rd – Egypt
4th – Cape Verde

We would like to thank all the referees who officiated in the tournament and the Cape Verde Paralympic Committee for hosting the 2017 IBSA Blind Football African Championships.

Click on the links above to view or download the full results and final standings from Cape Verde 2017, or here to view the results and historic results from IBSA Blind Football competitions dating back to 1995. 

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Caption: banner for the African Championships.