The Mauritius beach soccer team, led by French coach Claude Barrabé, suffered a 4-0 defeat to Angola in the first leg of their CAN 2026 qualifier on September 25, 2026, at the Blue-Bay Arena. Despite having some scoring opportunities, the Mauritian team was unable to capitalize and fell to a dominant Angolan side. The match was played in three 12-minute periods, with Angola's Juliao Alfredo scoring two goals and Paulo Pereira and Miguel Domingues adding one each.
The Mauritian team, which has only been together for 10 days, showed promise in the first period, keeping the score level at 0-0. However, they began to tire in the second and third periods, allowing Angola to take control and score four unanswered goals. Coach Claude Barrabé attributed the loss to his team's lack of physical conditioning, stating that some players were "at the ramasse physically." Despite the defeat, Barrabé remains optimistic about his team's chances in the second leg.
The second leg of the qualifier will take place on September 27, 2026, at 3:00 PM at the Blue-Bay Arena. Coach Barrabé has urged his team to be aggressive from the start and score quickly to put pressure on the Angolan defense. "If we can score a goal in the first five minutes, it can change the game," he said. Team captain Stephan Nabab echoed Barrabé's sentiments, emphasizing the importance of converting scoring opportunities.
The Mauritian team has been working hard to improve their beach soccer skills, with Coach Barrabé bringing his extensive experience as a former player and coach of several teams, including Madagascar and France. The team has also been bolstered by the return of three experienced players who were part of the 2015 beach soccer team: goalkeeper Bakar, Stephan Nabab, and Mervyn Jocelyn.
Despite the heavy defeat, the Mauritian supporters remained behind their team throughout the match, and Coach Barrabé is confident that they will bounce back in the second leg. "We are a small team, but we will grow and become a great nation in beach soccer one day," he said. Mervyn Jocelyn also expressed his optimism, stating that the team is preparing for the future and will give a good performance in the second leg.
The Angolan team, on the other hand, demonstrated their experience and skill, with Coach Barrabé praising their efficiency in front of goal. "They have seven field players, and I saw that they have some injured players... We are confident for the second leg," he said. The Mauritian team will need to overcome their physical limitations and find a way to score against a solid Angolan defense.
The winner of the two-legged qualifier will advance to the CAN 2026 beach soccer tournament. Coach Barrabé and his team are determined to make a good impression and progress to the next stage. With the support of their fans and the guidance of their experienced coach, the Mauritian team will look to cause an upset in the second leg.
Key points
- Mauritius beach soccer team suffers 4-0 defeat to Angola in CAN 2026 qualifier
- Coach Claude Barrabé remains optimistic about team's chances in second leg
- Second leg of qualifier to take place on September 27, 2026, at Blue-Bay Arena
