CAN Beach Soccer Sénégal 2026 rescheduled for 28 November to 6 December

The 2026 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal has been moved from 7–15 November to 28 November–6 December. The new dates were announced by the Senegalese Football Federation, which said the change followed a decision by the Confederation of African Football in consultation with the host federation.

The revised schedule keeps the tournament in Senegal but shifts it three weeks later than originally planned. The competition will now begin on 28 November and finish on 6 December, giving the event a nine-day calendar, the same overall length as the initial 7–15 November programme.

The main reason for the change is Senegal’s crowded sporting calendar at the end of 2026. Dakar will host the 2026 Youth Olympic Games from 31 October to 13 November. Those Games will finish only six days before the original opening date of the Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations, creating a direct overlap in the country’s preparations and operations.

Moving the beach soccer tournament to 28 November means the two major events will no longer run alongside each other. The new opening date comes 15 days after the Youth Olympic Games close. This gives Senegal additional time to separate the two competition schedules and coordinate the demands attached to hosting both events on its territory.

The decision also changes the immediate preparation timeline for the teams involved in the continental tournament. Instead of building towards an early-November start, the participating sides will now target the end of November and the first week of December. No new match schedule, venues or draw details have been announced with the date change.

The FSF said the reprogramming is intended not only to account for the busy national calendar but also to optimise the organisation of the beach soccer competition. Better coordination between the Youth Olympic Games and the continental tournament is central to the revised arrangement, with CAF and the FSF working together on the adjustment.

Senegal will enter the tournament as the reigning African beach soccer champion. The new dates therefore place the defending champion’s title defence at home from 28 November to 6 December. The change does not alter Senegal’s status as host or champion; it changes when the continental title will be contested.

For African beach soccer, the revised dates settle a scheduling issue around one of the continent’s major events in 2026. Senegal now has a clearer sequence for its two international competitions: the Youth Olympic Games will run from 31 October to 13 November, followed by the Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations from 28 November to 6 December. The FSF has reaffirmed its commitment to working with CAF on the tournament and on the development of beach soccer in Africa.