Nigeria's Sand Eagles have assembled a full squad in Kaduna as they intensify preparations for their CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations qualifying clash against Ghana. The team, comprising 20 invited players, has been undergoing tactical and technical sessions at the Murtala Muhammed Square Sports Complex under the supervision of coach Christopher Kadiri. This development comes as the team seeks to make a strong impression in the qualifying tie.
The Sand Eagles' head coach, Abdullahi Isa, is currently unavailable as he is with the Golden Eaglets, who are preparing for the WAFU-B U17 Championship in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Despite his absence, the team appears well-prepared for the challenge ahead. The squad includes goalkeepers Godwin Tale, Nuhu Noma Aiki, and Olalekan Oladipo, as well as defenders Victor Tale, Taiwo Adams, and Emmanuel Ohwoferia.
The Sand Eagles will host Ghana's Black Sharks in the first leg of the qualifying tie in Kaduna on Saturday, 10 October. The team will then travel to Accra for the return leg on Saturday, 17 October. A win in the two-legged tie will secure qualification for the CAF Beach Soccer AFCON finals in Senegal, scheduled for 7–15 October.
Nigeria returned to the international beach soccer scene two years ago after a prolonged absence. Although they narrowly missed out on qualification for the CAF Beach Soccer AFCON hosted by Seychelles, the team is determined to make a strong impression this time around. The Sand Eagles will look to build on their experience and secure a spot in the tournament.
As part of their preparations, the Nigeria Football Federation has approached the Fédération Sénégalaise de Football to arrange friendly matches between the Sand Eagles and Senegal, the reigning African champions. This development highlights the team's commitment to preparing for the challenge ahead.
The Sand Eagles squad for the Ghana qualifiers includes a mix of experienced and new players. Forwards Dozie Frank, Stanley Ekwe, and Tanko Emmanuel will look to make an impact, alongside midfielders Kazeem Oyewunmi and Hassan Abdullahi. The team's diverse squad will look to work together to achieve a positive result.
With the full squad now in camp, the Sand Eagles are poised to take on the challenge of qualifying for the CAF Beach Soccer AFCON finals. The team's determination and preparation will be put to the test as they face off against Ghana's Black Sharks in the coming days. The winner of the two-legged tie will secure a spot in the tournament.
Key points
- The Sand Eagles have assembled a full squad in Kaduna for their CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations qualifying clash against Ghana.
- The team will host Ghana's Black Sharks in the first leg of the qualifying tie in Kaduna on Saturday, 10 October.
- A win in the two-legged tie will secure qualification for the CAF Beach Soccer AFCON finals in Senegal.
