The Nigerian Beach Soccer National Team, Sand Eagles, has begun intensive preparations for their upcoming 2026 CAF Beach Soccer AFCON qualifying fixture against Ghana's Black Sharks. All 20 invited players have reported to camp and are undergoing tactical and technical drills at the Murtala Muhammed Square Sports Complex in Kaduna. The team is being supervised by Coach Christopher Kadiri, as Head Coach Abdullahi Isa is currently with the U17 Boys National Team, Golden Eaglets.
The Sand Eagles are set to host Ghana's Black Sharks in Kaduna on October 10, with the second leg scheduled to take place in Accra on October 17. The team's preparation is crucial, as the winner of the fixture will earn a ticket to this year's CAF Beach Soccer AFCON finals in Senegal. The NFF has also approached the Fédération Sénegalaise de Football for the perennial African champions to play a couple of friendly matches with the Sand Eagles as part of preparations.
Nigeria returned to beach soccer's international terrain two years ago, but lost to Mauritania in the qualifying series for the CAF Beach Soccer AFCON hosted by Seychelles. The team is determined to make a strong comeback and qualify for the AFCON finals. The Sand Eagles' squad consists of 20 players, including goalkeepers Godwin Tale, Nuhu Noma Aiki, and Olalekan Oladipo.
The team's defenders include Victor Tale, Taiwo Adams, Emmanuel Ohwoferia, Clement Eganosi, Effiong Eyo, and Chinweze Gabriel. The forwards comprise Dozie Frank, Stanley Ekwe, Tanko Emmanuel, Ekene Obi, Hassan Abubakar, Sadiq Umar, Kazeem Oyewunmi, Hassan Abdullahi, Godspower Igudia, Hamza Bagudu, and Hamza Isa.
Coach Christopher Kadiri is leading the team's preparations in the absence of Head Coach Abdullahi Isa, who is with the Golden Eaglets. The team's strategy and tactics are being fine-tuned to ensure a strong performance against Ghana's Black Sharks.
The NFF's approach to the Fédération Sénegalaise de Football for friendly matches with Senegal is part of efforts to boost the team's preparation. Senegal is a perennial African champion and a strong team, and these friendly matches will provide valuable experience for the Sand Eagles.
The Sand Eagles' players are eager to make their mark in the qualifying fixture and secure a spot in the CAF Beach Soccer AFCON finals. With intensive preparations underway, the team is confident of a strong performance against Ghana's Black Sharks.
Key points
- The Sand Eagles will host Ghana's Black Sharks in Kaduna on October 10.
- The winner of the fixture will earn a ticket to this year's CAF Beach Soccer AFCON finals in Senegal.
- The team's preparations are being supervised by Coach Christopher Kadiri in the absence of Head Coach Abdullahi Isa.
