Hosts and defending champions Senegal will face Ghana, Uganda and Mozambique in Group A of the 2026 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations, following the draw in Cairo on 4 November. The grouping gives four teams from different parts of the continent a defined preparation target before the tournament begins later this month.

Uganda's football federation, FUFA, confirms the Group A line-up and the draw date. Senegalese sports outlet Wiwsport's account of the completed draw gives the same opponents and places Mauritania, Morocco, Malawi and Angola in Group B.

These are draw results, not match results. No team has earned a point or a semi-final place from the allocation itself.

### A short route from the group to the knockout stage

CAF's published competition and draw procedures set the finals for 28 November–6 December in Senegal. Eight qualified nations are divided into two groups of four, with each team playing three group matches.

The top two in each group advance. The Group A winner meets the Group B runner-up in one semi-final, while the Group B winner faces the Group A runner-up in the other. The winning semi-finalists contest the title; the losing teams play for third place.

That format gives the group stage a particular importance. A team has only three matches to establish its position, and finishing first or second determines which side of the other group it encounters. The draw offers a framework for preparation, while qualification from the group must still be achieved on the sand.

CAF had seeded Senegal in position A1 because it is both the host and defending champion. Mauritania, the 2024 runner-up, was allocated position B1. Those placements explain the structure of the draw without predicting how the teams will perform in this edition.

### Uganda returns with a recent qualifying test behind it

FUFA says the Sand Cranes will make their third appearance at the finals. Uganda reached the semi-finals on its first appearance in Senegal in 2021 and returned for the 2022 edition in Mozambique.

For this tournament, the federation records a 13–10 aggregate qualifying victory over Burundi, including a 9–6 second-leg win. That result establishes how Uganda reached the field; it does not demonstrate that the same scoring pattern will carry into a group containing the host nation.

For supporters, the return creates a concrete point of connection with a national team whose calendar is distinct from eleven-a-side football. Beach soccer should be followed through its own competition schedule and team announcements rather than assumed to share the same squad, fixtures or preparation arrangements.

### Ghana also arrives through a competitive qualifier

The Ghana Football Association's pre-draw account records the Black Sharks' 10–7 aggregate win over Nigeria. Ghana drew 3–3 away before winning 7–4 in Keta.

With the group now established, the relevant question shifts from qualifying to preparing for three known opponents. Supporters can compare the announced squads and later match schedules when those details are confirmed, without treating a federation's optimism as a forecast of the table.

### An audience opportunity before the first kick

Hosting gives Senegal a chance to bring a continental competition before local spectators. The draw also provides a useful moment for broadcasters, community groups and diaspora supporters to begin explaining who is involved and what progression requires.

That attention is more valuable when practical information remains accurate. A tournament date range is not a ticket, and the draw alone does not establish viewing availability in every country. Readers should follow CAF and the participating federations for confirmed match times and access arrangements.

RIM's reporting on Uganda's AFCON tourism partnership considers how sporting attention can connect with wider public and business interests. This is a separate competition, but the same practical question applies: how does visibility become meaningful participation? For now, the eight teams have their groups and a clear next task—preparing for the tournament itself.

*Illustration: AI-generated beach-soccer equipment and imagined coastal scenery; no actual match, draw ceremony or tournament venue is depicted.*

Why this matters

Beach soccer offers another route for African national teams and supporters to take part in continental sport. This draw connects West, East, North and southern African teams through a compact tournament hosted by Senegal. Clear coverage of the groups, qualification results and progression rules helps audiences follow the competition on its own terms. Its sporting and local economic value will depend on the matches, public access and organisation that follow.

Sources

Topics: Beach soccer · Senegal · Ghana · Uganda · Mozambique · African football

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