After five years, Nigeria’s Beach Soccer National Team will return to international tournaments as the 2024 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations (BSAFCON) Qualifiers get underway this weekend.
Since 2019, the team has not taken part in any international competition since the disbandment by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The current NFF board under Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau inaugurated the Futsal and beach soccer sub-committee in motion for the team’s return.
After the conclusion of the 2024 Nigeria Beach Soccer League (NBSL) which was attended by NFF board members, Sporting Lagos goalkeeper Coach and National Beach Soccer team legend who has been the league Technical director since 2021, Abdullahi Isa was appointed as the head coach of the national team.
Christopher Kadiri was named as his first assistant while Kebbi BSC coach, Bashar Samaila three time NBSL Champion will serve as the second assistant and goalkeeper coach.
Nine league players went on the trip to Mauritania for Saturday’s clash.
They are Victor Tale (Kada BSC), Emeka Ogbonna (Anambra Beach Soccer Warriors), Arome Isah (Jigawa Golden Stars BSC), Adams Taiwo (Kebbi BSC), Emmanuel Ohwoferia (Kebbi BSC), Godwin Tale (Kebbi BSC), Eganosi Ekujumi (Anambra Beach Soccer Warriors), Chidozie Frank (Kada BSC), and Hassan Abdullahi (Kebbi BSC).
The first leg in Mauritania is slated for Saturday, July 20, by 6:00 pm local time (7:00 pm Nigerian time).
The return leg is billed for Saturday, July 27 in Nigeria.
The return of the national team marks a reward for the hard work of the NBSL under Mahmud Hadejia who has been the coordinator of the league since inception in 2021.
The NBSL debued in 2021 has had four uninterrupted seasons which is reaping from the return of the national team players after four years of persistently putting beach soccer on the face of Nigerians.
Source: NBSL MEDIA
