Dakar 2026 Youth Olympic Games: Morocco Names 10-Player U18 Futsal Squad

Yesterday 20:00

Morocco’s under-18 national futsal team is set to compete at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal, from November 1 to 12, with a challenging group-stage campaign awaiting the young Atlas Lions.

Drawn in Group B, Morocco will face Portugal, Paraguay and the Solomon Islands in a tournament that offers the country’s emerging futsal players an opportunity to gain international experience and demonstrate their abilities on a major sporting stage.

Morocco’s Group-Stage Schedule

The Moroccan team will begin its campaign against Portugal on November 2, before taking on Paraguay two days later. Its final group-stage fixture against the Solomon Islands is scheduled for November 7.

The three matches will be crucial to Morocco’s ambitions of progressing in the competition, which brings together young athletes from different countries and provides a platform for developing the next generation of international sporting talent.

With opponents from Europe, South America and the Pacific, Morocco will face a diverse range of playing styles during the group stage. The tournament will therefore test the squad’s tactical adaptability, technical quality and ability to perform under pressure.

Zakaria Kouiri Names a 10-Player Squad

Head coach Zakaria Kouiri has selected 10 players to represent Morocco at the Dakar competition. The squad combines young talents who will be tasked with defending the national team’s colours throughout the tournament.

The selected players are:

Youssef Haddou Ouali
Zakaria Sarghine
Mohamed Karrouk El Bahi
Brahim Houdane
Alae Ait Challa
Mohamed Bamhamed
Hamza El Ahmadi
Mohammed Serrar
Mohamed Touil
Hamza Iissi

The squad will aim to make the most of this international opportunity, with each match offering valuable experience against opponents from different futsal traditions.

A Major Opportunity for Morocco’s Young Futsal Players

The Youth Olympic Games provide a competitive environment in which young athletes can develop their skills, build international experience and measure themselves against players of their own age group.

For Morocco, participation in Dakar 2026 represents an opportunity to strengthen its youth futsal development pathway and give its emerging players exposure to international competition.

As the opening match against Portugal approaches, the Moroccan side will look to begin its campaign positively before turning its attention to Paraguay and the Solomon Islands. The group-stage results will determine the team’s prospects of advancing in the tournament.