Kebbi Beach Soccer Club withdraws from 2024 World Winners Cup

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

2024 Nigeria Beach Soccer League (NBSL) champions Kebbi BSC will not take part in this year’s edition of the World Winners Cup in Alghero, Italy.

The club, in a press statement, stated the reason for their withdrawal was the non-issuance of visas to the team by the Italian Embassy.

The statement specified that Kebbi BSC previously had communications with the Italian Embassy since August on the visa issues.

“Kebbi Beach Soccer Club (KBSC) regrets to announce that the team will not be participating in the 2024 Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW) organized “World Winners Cup” in Alghero, Italy, this month,” the statement read.

“This decision comes after the non-issuance of VISAS to the team by the Italian Embassy, citing a late application despite several communications since August.”

The team previously took part in the Beach Soccer World Cup for clubs twice in 2019 and 2023.

They bowed out at the group stage in 2019 when Turkey hosted the competition.

In 2023, they became the first African team to reach the Round of 16 in Alghero, Italy.

Kebbi Fishers won three of the previous four NBSLs in 2021, 2023, and 2024, while Kada BSC won the trophy in 2022.