Driss El Mountaqi, the African representative on the International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA), believes African nations need more regular local tournaments, refresher courses for coaches, guides and referees if they are to catch up with the more developed blind football countries in America, Europe and Asia.
El Mountaqi presided over the 2025 IBSA Blind Football African Championship Division II from October 27-29 at Hamz Stadium in Kampala.
‘Compared to America and Europe, I would give the event 60 percent. But by African standards, 80 percent because it’s the first Africa Division II tournament,’ El Mountaqi exclusively told Daily Monitor.
Only Zimbabwe, South Sudan and Uganda played the tournament, South Sudan proving a class apart by beating Uganda 3-0 in the opening match and in the final to win the title.
Having beaten Zimbabwe 2-0, South Sudan also finished the tournament with the most number of goals-eight and conceding none. They also dominated the individual awards: Charles Bepo, emerged the best goalkeeper, Yona Sabri the top scorer with six goals, and their captain Martin Lado, the tournament’s MVP.
Both Uganda and South Sudan qualified for Division I, the winner of which will automatically qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games.
But El Mountaqi, who has coached Morocco to the Rio 2016 and Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, believes African teams still have a lot to do to reach the level of Europe, America and Asia.
‘They need to have local championships where players can compete regularly. Even in Morocco we have few games. It’s not enough. Africa also needs championships like the ones regularly played in America, Europe and Asia,’ El Mountaqi said.
‘There’s also a need for refresher training for coaches, guides and referees.’
For the three match days, El Mountaqi observed that coaches lack a good grasp of the rules. ‘Because knowledge of the rules help you coach well. That’s why you need more courses for referees, coaches and guides. For example, Uganda has been changing guides. It’s not good. A good guide has codes with the players. ‘When I say this you know what I mean’ but when you change the guides all the time, the players lose that connection.’
El Mountaqi urged the Uganda Paralympic Committee and Blind Football Uganda to be intentional in creating a formidable national team.
‘You don’t have to wait for an event to pick the national team. Every two months, they need 10 days or a week to play and train together to create and strengthen connection,’ he said.
As UPC president Bumali Mpindi usually says, that will need more government investment into para-sport.
Ball per player
‘In Africa we are strong, physically. But we must train every day. And every player must have a ball. Not one ball for the whole team.’
El Mountaqi added: ‘The ball should become like your leg. You should worry about other things, not the ball. Otherwise, you won’t play well, you will have accidents.’
He found Lado and Sabri, both of South Sudan, outstanding. Zimbabwe’s Arnold Swella, who got injured against South Sudan, and Uganda’s Gad Tumusiime, showed signs of potential.
‘But all of these players need to work on their speed. They must be faster. Europeans and Americans play very fast and if you are not as fast you can’t compete against them.
DIVISION II RESULTS
Uganda 0-3 South Sudan
South Sudan 2-0 Zimbabwe
Uganda 1-0 Zimbabwe
FINAL
Uganda 0-3 South Sudan