Rabat – Morocco’s women’s beach volleyball team has reached the semifinals of the African Beach Volleyball Championship in Alexandria after defeating Algeria 2-1 on Friday.
The Moroccan duo made a strong comeback after losing the opening set 21-18. They responded emphatically in the second set, winning 21-9, before edging Algeria 15-13 in the decisive set.
The victory secured Morocco a place in the semifinals and also guaranteed the team qualification for the 2027 Beach Volleyball World Championships.
Morocco will face hosts Egypt in the semifinal on Saturday, with the Atlas Lionesses aiming to reach the final of the continental competition.
Morocco’s strong history in African Beach Volleyball
Morocco’s progress in Alexandria adds another chapter to the country’s growing history in women’s beach volleyball. Moroccan players have repeatedly challenged for the African title, with the national team reaching the podium at several editions of the continental championship.
Morocco claimed its first women’s African beach volleyball title at the inaugural 2015 championship in Tunisia, where Ikram Ettayfi and Mahassine Siad won the gold medal. Siad has since become one of the country’s most experienced players on the international beach volleyball circuit.
Morocco again dominated the women’s competition in 2022 when the duo of Imane Zeroual and Nora Darrhar won the African title in Agadir. The tournament ended with an all-Moroccan final, as Mahassine Siad and Imane Yakki took silver.
The Moroccan women continued that success in 2025. Mahassine Siad and Dina El Ghazoui won the African championship in Martil after defeating Mozambique’s Vanessa Muianga and Mercia Mucheza in the final.
From African champions to the world stage
Morocco’s continental success has also translated into opportunities at the global level. In 2015, the Moroccan duo of Ikram Ettayafi and Mahassine Siad qualified for the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in the Netherlands.
The 2025 African championship was another important milestone. The top four women’s teams earned qualification for the FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships in Adelaide, Australia. Morocco’s champions, Mahassine Siad and Dina El Ghazoui, represented the country at the global tournament.
The 2026 campaign therefore comes as part of a broader period of growth for Moroccan women’s beach volleyball. With another World Championship qualification already secured, Morocco now has the opportunity to add another African title to its record and strengthen its position among the continent’s leading beach volleyball nations.
Olympic qualification also at stake
The tournament carries additional importance, as it also serves as a qualification pathway for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The African champions will earn a direct ticket to the Olympics, giving Morocco another major objective beyond the continental title.
The African championship features teams from across the continent and is one of the key events on the African beach volleyball calendar.
Morocco will now look to build on its impressive comeback against Algeria when it faces Egypt in the semifinal, with a place in the final and another shot at continental glory at stake.
