Seychelles will be keen to make up for a disappointing showing at the HOLLYWOODBETS COSAFA Beach Soccer Championship in 2021 when they return to Durban for this year’s competition from September 25-October 1.
They lost both encounters 12 months ago, though they did not go down without a fight and will want to bring that same spirit this time round. They played their opener against host South Africa and lost 4-2, before an epic 8-6 defeat at the hands of Angola meant they did not qualify for the semifinals.
It put them into the Plate Final, where they again lost 4-5 to fellow islanders Comoros. Hansel Coeur de Lion top-scored for the side with five goals.
The Seychelles Football Federation is hoping to be named as hists of the 2023 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, with that announcement due anytime from now.
Seychelles, which hosted the inaugural COSAFA Beach Soccer Championship in 2015, is up against Bahrain and United Arab Emirates for the right to stage the global event and can be hopeful of success.
Should they win that right they will also debut in the competition having not played on the global stage before. They did qualify for the CAF Beach Soccer Cup of Nations in 2015 as hosts but struggled and lost all three of their pool games, as well as the battle for seventh place as they went down 12-1 to Ghana.
They won a place in 2021 after qualifier opponents Madagascar pulled out due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but again found the level too difficult and were beaten in their three group games.
They essentially finished last in the field after DR Congo withdrew, with the worst record of the remaining seven competing teams.
SEYCHELLES AT THE 2021 COSAFA BEACH SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
MP W L GF GA
3 0 3 12 17
Results:
Group Stages
Seychelles 2-4 South Africa
Seychelles 6-8 Angola
Plate final
Seychelles 4-5 Comoros
SEYCHELLES AT THE BEACH AFCON
APP MP W L GF GA
2 8 0 8 12 58
Finishes
2015 – Eighth
