Ghana's Black Sharks have kept their hopes alive of reaching the 2026 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal after a thrilling 3-3 draw with Nigeria in Kaduna. The match, a qualifier for the continental tournament, saw Nigeria's Isa Hamza Manga score a hat-trick, but Ghana fought back with two goals from Mawuli Sosu and a late equalizer from Wise Nyamadi. The draw means the tie remains very much alive ahead of the return leg in Keta on October 18.
The first leg of the qualifier had gotten off to a frenetic start, with Manga scoring all three goals for Nigeria and giving his side a commanding advantage. However, the Black Sharks showed resilience and fought back into the contest, with Sosu striking twice and Nyamadi netting the equalizer. The Ghana Football Association confirmed that the draw sets up a winner-takes-all finale in Keta, with the winner on aggregate securing a place at the 2026 CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal.
The return leg of the qualifier will take place in Keta, in the Volta Region of Ghana, on Sunday, October 18, 2026. The Black Sharks will be looking to turn home advantage into a decisive result and finish the job on familiar sand. Beach soccer, played on sand rather than grass and contested in three periods rather than two halves, has grown in profile across Africa, with CAF's Africa Cup of Nations in the discipline serving as the continental championship and a pathway to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
For Ghana, qualifying for the Senegal-hosted tournament would mark a return to continental competition for the Black Sharks, who have built a reputation in recent qualifying campaigns as one of West Africa's stronger beach soccer sides. A place at the tournament would also raise the profile of beach soccer domestically, offering Ghanaian players greater exposure on the continental stage and potential pathways to international recognition in a sport that has traditionally received less attention than the conventional game.
The Black Sharks have been one of West Africa's stronger beach soccer sides in recent years, and a place at the 2026 CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations would be a significant achievement for the team. The Ghana Football Association has expressed confidence in the team's ability to secure a positive result in the return leg and qualify for the tournament.
The second leg of the qualifier promises to be an exciting encounter, with both teams eager to secure a place at the 2026 CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations. The winner of the tie will join other top teams from across Africa at the tournament in Senegal, which will also serve as a qualification event for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
The logistics for the return leg, including any potential tie-breaking procedures, have not been fully detailed by the Ghana Football Association. However, the association has confirmed that the team will be looking to make the most of their home advantage in Keta and secure a positive result against Nigeria.
Key points
- The Black Sharks will host Nigeria in a winner-takes-all Beach Soccer AFCON qualifier in Keta on October 18.
- A place at the 2026 CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations would mark a return to continental competition for Ghana's Black Sharks.
- The tie remains level at 3-3 on aggregate ahead of the return leg in Keta.
