For the second time, Nigerian champions, Kebbi Beach Soccer Club (BSC) represented Nigeria and Africa at the 2023 World Winners Cup in Alghero, Italy last week.
The two-time Nigeria Beach Soccer League (NBSL) winners arrived in Italy a few hours before their first game against Copenhagen BSC of Denmark.
Despite the jet lag, the Kebbi Fishers gallantly lost to the Danish side 4-2 with Filip Filipov and Taiwo Adams scoring for the Nigerian side.
Another gallant 7-4 loss to eventual winners of the tournament, ASD Napoli of Italy followed as goals from Emmanuel Ohwoferia, Amid Nazarov, Ekene Obi, and Usman Muhammed could not prevent the team’s second defeat of the group stage.
For the first time in the club’s history, Kebbi BSC thrashed BS Vion of Slovakia 15-1 thanks to goals from Filipov (6), Obi (2), Hassan Muhammed (3), Usman Muhammed (3) Nazarov which sealed a place in the Round of 16 of the competition.
The team became the first African side to win a game in the group stage of the tournament and made it to the Round of 16 in the process.
The journey ended for the team in the Round of 16 after an 8-1 loss to Bahia de Mazarron of Spain with Nazarov’s goal a consolation.
It was an improvement in the team’s maiden participation at the tournament in 2019 where they lost all three group games to Levante (Spain), Napoli Patron (Greece), and Real Munster (Germany) and settled for 17th-19th playoff wins against Licata (Italy) and Al-Rabi (Kuwait).
Africa and Nigeria are proud of the historic feat of the Kebbi Fishers and hope the team’s improvement on the world stage will spur other African teams at the next editions.
