The Beach Soccer National Team, otherwise known as Supersand Eagles, will camp at the Aivoji Beach, Badagry outside Lagos ahead of next month’s Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations taking place in Egypt.
Two –time African champions Nigeria will join Cote d’Ivoire, Libya, Madagascar, Morocco, Senegal, Tanzania and hosts Egypt at the continental finals slated for 8th – 14th December in Cairo.
Head Coach of the Supersand Eagles, Audu Ejo Adamu told thenff.comon Wednesday that he has called to camp 20 players he believes will compete keenly to make the final list of 12 players that would do Nigeria proud at the championship.
“Nigeria is a force in beach soccer on the African continent and that means any team we send to the continental championship must be able to live up to the high expectation of Nigerians.
“We will make the best use of the camping program and pick players who would fight for the pride of the country when the championship starts on December 8.”
Nigeria won the 2007 and 2009 African Beach Soccer Championships, and finished as runners –up in 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2016.
The last edition of the Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations was held in Lagos, Nigeria in December 2016 and also served as the qualifying tournament for the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in The Bahamas. Senegal won the tournament, with Nigeria finishing as runners –up. Both teams represented Africa in The Bahamas.
Coach Adamu has called usual suspects Paul Dami Danjuma (Katsina United), Emeka Ogbonna (Leeds United, Lagos), Abu Aziz (Rangers International), Suleiman Ogodo (Nasarawa United), Victor Tale (Kogi United) and Emmanuel Ohweferia (Owibeseb FC, Lagos), but there are also Joshua Enaholo (former Flying Eagles’ goalkeeper, now with Abia Warriors FC), Arome Isah (Kogi Confluence), Clement Ogosi (Leeds United, Lagos), Michael Tyson (Iganmu FC, Lagos), Kabiru Balogun (Nasarawa United), Godwin Zaki (Rangers International), Eric Dufegha (Katsian United), Nwagua Nyima (Kano Pillars), Taiwo Adams (Owibeseb FC, Lagos), Hammed Kareem (Owibeseb FC, Lagos), Pascal Eze (Delta Force), Ayomide Iluyomade (Abia Comet), Haruna Sanusi (NYSC FC, Sokoto) and Femi Friday (SEC FC, Abuja).
The finals in Egypt will serve as the qualifying tournament for the 2019 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup scheduled for Paraguay. The Supersand Eagles came within a place in the semi finals of the 2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Ravenna, Italy before losing in extra time to Brazil.
