National Teams
‘NFF poised to return beach soccer team to glory days’ – Ibrahim Gusau
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau is confident and optimistic that the beach soccer national team will return to the glory days.
Since 2019, the team has not participated in international tournaments and is set to make a return in July when the Qualifiers for the 2024 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations (BSAFCON) get underway.
The Sand Eagles will face Mauritania on a home-and-away basis for a chance to qualify for the BSAFCON.
In a bid to foster the return of the national team to international tournaments, the NFF inaugurated the Futsal and Beach Soccer Committee last week in Abuja.
“I must say today is a happy day for all of us because we know that for the past five years, Nigeria has been off when it comes to Futsal or beach soccer, especially at the continental and global level but we feel it is important for us to see how we can go back and return Nigeria to where it belongs,” Gusau said during the inauguration.
“Before now, we were a main force in beach soccer but along the line, I don’t know what happened. We have seen it as a board now and realized that it is very important for us to make sure at least we move ahead.
“For beach soccer, by the grace of God, this will be the first time that the World Cup will be taking place in Africa which will take place in Seychelles next year. I think it will be a thing of joy for Nigeria to be part of that historic event happening in Africa.”
The Sand Eagles have won the BSAFCON twice and participated in diverse FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups.
“Also for Futsal, we have not been doing very well or very much. We intend to see that at least we make things happen as far as Futsal is concerned.” He continued.
“That is why I think it is important for us to see how we can encourage this board so that we can start working to be able to achieve our aim in Futsal and beach soccer.
“I am happy to see that we have committed people in the committee and I know that they are going to do their best and ensure that at least Nigeria returns to its glory days when it comes to beach soccer and Futsal.”
With the Nigeria Beach Soccer League (NBSL) set to crown their fourth champions at the Super 4 in Kaduna next month, players and officials expected to prosecute the qualifiers will be appointed from the league in the coming days according to recommendations of the committee.
He said: “Most times when I travel for CAF meetings or events, a lot of people do ask me what is the problem with beach soccer in Nigeria and that they want to come to Lagos for beach soccer. I feel it is the right time now we go back and try and see how we can do what we need to do.
“As you are well aware, we have the beach soccer league that is going on and being run by individuals which by the grace of God, after the inauguration of this Committee, we are going to speak with them on how we can be involved to make sure that that league is managed properly. It is from the league that we are going to gather players that will represent the country. We must make sure that things are being run properly.
“The committee will see how they will come up with advice on how things are done professionally.
“Very soon, Nigeria will go back to participate at the continental level. All that will happen based on advice by the committee followed by approval by the board. All I want to assure Nigerians is that we are very much determined to ensure that at least Nigeria gets back to its glory days as far as beach soccer is concerned.
“The same thing for Futsal to make sure we are among the best in Africa because we have the talents.” He concluded.
It can be recalled that the Supersand Eagles brought honour to the country at various times in the past, winning the Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations in 2007 and 2009, winning a couple of silver medals at the same competition, and also harvesting bronze medals on a couple of occasions. The team also represented Africa at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup on many occasions, including reaching the quarter-finals in Ravenna, Italy in 2011 before losing to Brazil in overtime.
The NFF decided to pull the team out of international competitions five years ago, after high-score losses at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Paraguay.
A member of the NFF Executive Committee, Otuekong Nse Essien is the committee’s chairman, with Chairman of Chairmen, Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf (Fresh) as vice chairman. Members are Hon. Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande, former NFF Executive Committee member and Chairman, Plateau State FA; Mr. Richard Jideaka, foremost 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).
