National Teams
NFF registers Sand Eagles for Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has registered the national beach soccer team for the next Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations (BSAFCON) Qualifiers according to reliable sources in the Federation and the Africa football ruling body, the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The leadership of NFF under its President, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau is working towards returning the beach soccer national team to international competitions with the registration of the team for the next (BSAFCON) Qualifiers slated for this year.
The Federation and CAF Competition Department confirmed the registration of the two-time African champions for the Qualifiers which is a step towards returning the former African Beach Soccer champions to continental football.
Since 2019, the Sand Eagles have not participated in any international competitions after the team was disbanded for abysmal performance at that year’s World Cup.
There was a glimmer of hope of a return to the international stage during the last BSAFCON but the team was withdrawn on the eve of the tournament in Mozambique by the NFF under former President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick despite qualifying without kicking a ball during the qualifiers.
The intending return to the international stage of the beach soccer national team serves as a breakthrough for the Nigeria Beach Soccer League (NBSL) which is in its fourth season with a huge pool of talents available to storm the continent.
It is now left for the NFF executives to announce the technical crew for the beach soccer national team in the coming days ahead of the qualifiers.
The announcement of the technical crew for the team will set the path for the invitation of players in preparation for the Qualifiers.
The next BSAFCON will be held in Egypt and serve as qualifiers for the next Beach Soccer World Cup which will take place in another African country, Seychelles in 2025.
It will be a huge success for the Sand Eagles to qualify for the World Cup now that it is taking place in Africa in 2025.
The NBSL has spurred calls for the national team to return to competitive football. Two-time Nigeria champions, Kebbi BSC have participated in the Beach Soccer Club World Cup twice and reached the Round of 16 at the last edition in Alghero, Italy.
The team currently ranks as Africa’s top beach soccer club with its international experience.
It is logical for the country with the top-ranked beach soccer club in Africa to feature at the BSAFCON with a chance of qualifying for the World Cup on African soil.
