Draw sets groups for Afrincan Qualifier

Morocco, Senegal, Madagascar and Ghana (Group A) and Nigeria, Cote d?Ivoire, Egypt and Libya (Group B) square off in El Jadida

El Jadida (Morocco) is set to become the door to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2013 for the African teams, with the continental Qualifier taking place in the Moroccan city between May 22nd and 26th.  Eight teams will square off, trying to clinch one of the valued tickets to the global showpiece to take place in the French Polynesia next September: defending champions Senegal, last-year runner-ups Nigeria, Cote d?Ivoire, Egypt, Madagascar, Libya, newcomers Ghana and of course hosts Morocco.

This beautiful seaside resort, which successfully hosted a Beach Soccer Worldwide Tour event last summer, gets ready to make one step beyond in its relationship with the sport. Taking the baton of Casablanca, where the last FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup ? Africa Qualifier was held, El Jadida will pass sentence on the two African sides that will join the pack in Papeete.

This new edition of the African Qualifier means the opportunity for the Northern African teams to definitely assault the Central African dominion along the past years. Morocco and Egypt, with their laudable display last 2011 in Casablanca proved that this moment can be really close?

The draw held this morning in the Mazagan Beach Resort, official hotel for the competition, distributed the eight teams into two groups of four, with hosts Morocco being drawn in group A, together with defending African champions Senegal, 2011, Madagascar, who brought on a surprising performance in last edition, reaching semifinals, and newcomers Ghana.

In group B, Nigeria, who tops the African records and seized the continental throne in 2009 and 2007, will face Cote d?Ivoire, 2011 third place finisher Egypt and Libya.

The competition will follow a group stage pattern, with the teams facing in a round robin format, and the best two ranked sides advancing to semifinals. The two winners in this first play-off stage will get to the final, at the time they will clinch the ticket to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2013.

This is the final match schedule for the upcoming FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2013 ? Africa Qualifier El Jadida-Morocco, to take place in El Jadida, Morocco, from 22nd to 26th of May.

GROUP A   
Morocco
Senegal
Madagascar
Ghana   

GROUP B
Nigeria
Cote d?Ivoire
Egypt
Lybia

Match schedule:

Wednesday, 22nd of May, 2013
15:30 ? Cote d?Ivoire vs Egypt
16:45 ? Senegal vs Madagascar
18:00 ? Libya vs Nigeria
19:15 ? Ghana vs Morocco
         
Thursday, 23rd of May, 2013
15:30 ? Cote d?Ivoire vs Libya
16:45 ? Senegal vs Ghana
18:00 ? Nigeria vs Egypt
19:15 ? Morocco vs Madagascar
                   
Friday, 24th of May, 2013
18:00 ? Madagascar vs Ghana
19:15 ? Nigeria vs Cote d?Ivoire
20:30 ? Egypt vs Libya
21:45 ? Morocco vs Senegal

Saturday, 25th of May 2013
16:00 ? Semifinal 1
17:15 ? Semifinal 2
                   
Sunday, 26th of May, 2013
16:00 ? Playoff for the 3rd place
17:15 ? Final