Ibrahim Gusau: Supersand Eagles to get top-level support for BSAFCON Qualifiers

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, has pledged to rejuvenate the beach soccer national team, the Supersand Eagles.

Gusau has assured that the Supersand Eagles will receive the same level of attention and support as other national teams when they return to international competitions, beginning with the 2024 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations (BSAFCON) Qualifiers in July.

This commitment was made during the inauguration of the Futsal and Beach Soccer Sub-Committee in Abuja on Thursday.

The Sand Eagles are set to return to international football after a five-year hiatus, with their qualifiers against Mauritania scheduled for next month on a home-and-away basis.

“Nigeria is a big footballing nation, and it will be inappropriate if we continue to stay out of some activities that other African countries are involved in, football-wise. We will do whatever is necessary to restore Nigeria’s presence in futsal and beach soccer,” Gusau stated.

“I am assuring the committee that whether through financial or other means, futsal and beach soccer will enjoy equal treatment as other National Teams.”

The Futsal and Beach Soccer Sub-Committee includes Otuekong Nse Essien as chairman and Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf (Fresh), Chairman of Chairmen, as vice chairman.

Other members are Hon. Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande, former NFF Executive Committee member and Chairman of Plateau State FA; Mr. Richard Jideaka, a prominent journalist; Alhaji Aminu Mohammed Inuwa; Hajji Liameed Gafaar, Chairman of Lagos State FA; and Yabagi Alhaji Baba, vice chairman of Niger State FA. The secretary is Abubakar D. Umar Barde.

In 2019, the Supersand Eagles, two-time African champions, were disbanded by the NFF under former President Amaju Pinnick due to poor performance at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.

However, with the Nigeria Beach Soccer League now in its fourth season, there is a wealth of talent ready to compete on the international stage.

The Supersand Eagles were previously registered for the last BSAFCON Qualifiers and qualified without playing a match, but they withdrew from the tournament in Uganda.

The NFF is expected to announce the technical crew for the national team soon, ahead of the resumption of camp for the two-legged Qualifiers against Mauritania in July. This coincides with the Nigeria Beach Soccer League Super Four, which will take place in Kaduna.