National Teams
NFF appoints Abdullahi Isa as Sand Eagles head coach
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed Abdullahi Isa as the new head coach of the Beach Soccer national team.
The announcement comes just two days before the first leg of the 2024 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations (BSAFCON) Qualifiers between Nigeria and Mauritania.
Isa, a veteran goalkeeper and former assistant coach of the team, has been tasked with leading the Super Sand Eagles to the Egypt 2024 finals.
His extensive experience includes serving as the Technical Director of the Nigeria Beach Soccer League (NBSL) and being part of the Enyimba squad that won the CAF Champions League in 2003 and 2004.
Most recently, he has been working as the goalkeepers’ trainer with Sporting Lagos, guiding the team from the Nigeria National League (NNL) to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
Isa will be assisted by experienced beach soccer tactician Christopher Kadiri. Additionally, Bashar Samaila, a three-time league-winning coach with Kebbi Beach Soccer Club (BSC) in the NBSL, has been appointed as the team’s goalkeepers’ trainer.
The first leg of the 2024 BSAFCON Qualifiers against Mauritania is set for Saturday, July 20, in Nouakchott, Mauritania. The return leg will take place in Nigeria on Saturday, July 27.
This marks Nigeria’s first international beach soccer tournament since the team was disbanded by the NFF in 2019.
