Published:
The Atlas Lions of Morocco have qualified for their third consecutive TotalEnergies CAF Futsal AFCON final following their 6-0 victory over Libya in the semifinals on Friday night.
The star studded Morocco strolled past the Mediterranean Knights at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Hall in Rabat to book a date with Angola in final on Sunday, 21 April at 21:00 GMT.
Libya, who won the tournament on home soil in 2008 failed to turn up against their North African rival who dominated the match in front of their home fans in the capital.
The Atlas Lions captain Soufiane El Mesrar and Bilal Bakkali scored a brace each while Anas El Ayyane and Youssef Jouad also registered their names on the scoresheet.
Experienced skipper Soufiane Mesrar scored after three minutes to give Hicham Dguig’s team the lead with a poachers finish to beat the Libyan goalkeeper Ziyad Azeez.
Azeez pulled two world class saves to deny Anas El Ayyane and Ismail Amazal before Youssef Jouad and Soufian Charraoui blasted their efforts over Libyan goal.
The roaring Atlas Lions doubled their lead from a quick counter in their area to set up the combative Youssef Jouad at the back post to calmly tuck in Charraoui’s clever squared ball after 4 minutes.
Backed by their vocal home fans three two time champions increased their tally with 12 minutes on the clock to send the home faithful into wild celebrations.
Anas El Ayyane dispatched a brilliant team goal for Morocco to tightened their grip on the match. Jouad Youssef and Ismail Amazal combine on the break to find the unmarked Anas at the far post just before half time.
The hosts returned from the interval with more purpose and they didn’t waste time to more salt to the Libyans injury. Soufiane El Mesrar’s spectacular finish from the right made it 5-0 before his was denied by the woodwork.
The Atlas Lions roared again ten minutes before time courtesy of Bilal Bakkali’s superb strike from distance to register his second Morocco’s sixth of the match.
They will face Angola who stunned Egypt in Sunday’s at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Hall as they bid for their third title in the competition following their successes in 2016 and 2020.
The Mediterranean Knights will battle for the last remaining spot for the FIFA Futsal World Cup in the third placed match against Egypt on Sunday.