Nigeria's national beach soccer team, the Sand Eagles, have intensified their preparations for the crucial CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tie against Ghana. All 20 invited players are now in camp in Kaduna, working through tactical and technical sessions at the Murtala Muhammed Square Sports Complex under coach Christopher Kadiri's supervision. Preparations are gathering momentum ahead of the two-legged encounter.
The Sand Eagles are seeking a return to the continental stage after their comeback to international beach soccer two years ago. Their previous qualifying campaign ended in disappointment, with Mauritania eliminating Nigeria on the away-goal rule in the race for a place at the CAF Beach Soccer AFCON hosted by Seychelles. This presents another opportunity for Nigeria to secure a place among Africa's leading beach soccer nations.
Head coach Abdullahi Isa is currently away with the Golden Eaglets, preparing for next month's WAFU-B U-17 Championship in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. In his absence, the team is being led by Christopher Kadiri. Nigeria will host Ghana's Black Sharks in the first leg in Kaduna on Saturday, October 10, before traveling to Accra for the return fixture on Saturday, October 17.
The Nigeria Football Federation has approached the Senegalese Football Federation to arrange friendly matches for the Sand Eagles as part of their build-up. The proposed games are expected to provide additional competitive preparation ahead of the decisive Ghana fixtures. The winner of the two-legged contest will qualify for the CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations finals in Senegal.
The Sand Eagles squad for the Ghana qualifiers includes goalkeepers Godwin Tale, Nuhu Noma Aiki, and Olalekan Oladipo. Defenders Victor Tale, Taiwo Adams, Emmanuel Ohwoferia, Clement Eganosi, Effiong Eyo, and Chinweze Gabriel have also been called up. Forwards Dozie Frank, Stanley Ekwe, Tanko Emmanuel, Ekene Obi, Hassan Abubakar, Sadiq Umar, Kazeem Oyewunmi, Hassan Abdullahi, Godspower Igudia, Hamza Bagudu, and Hamza Isa make up the rest of the squad.
With the full squad now assembled, attention turns to sharpening Nigeria's tactical approach and ensuring the Sand Eagles are ready for the demanding West African qualifying battle against Ghana. The team has spent the past week working on their tactics and techniques, and they are expected to be well-prepared for the matches.
The CAF Beach Soccer AFCON qualifier against Ghana presents a significant challenge for the Sand Eagles, but they are determined to secure a place in the finals. The team's performance will be crucial in determining their chances of qualifying for the continental tournament.
Key points
- The Sand Eagles are seeking a return to the continental stage after their comeback to international beach soccer two years ago.
- The team has spent the past week working through tactical and technical sessions at the Murtala Muhammed Square Sports Complex.
- The winner of the two-legged contest will qualify for the CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations finals in Senegal.
