Nigeria’s return to international beach soccer is set to be capped with a continental ticket as the Supersand Eagles need only a draw against their counterparts from Mauritania in Kaduna on Saturday to grab a ticket to this year’s Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations.
A dogged performance against the Mauritanians in Nouakchott on Saturday last week earned the two-time African champions a 5-4 win, with goals from Emeka Ogbonna, Emmanuel Ohwoferia and Taiwo Adams, and a brace from old warhorse Victor Tale.
The Beach Soccer Arena inside the Murtala Muhammed Square, Kaduna is the venue for the return leg, which kicks off at 5pm.
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The Confederation of African Football has appointed Mozambican officials to take charge of the game. Dique Salvador Muxanga is the referee, with his compatriots Angelo Almeida Nguenha and Jonas Chochota Chochato as Referees 1 and 2 respectively. Angolan Eliano Domingos Tito Iacala will be time keeper while Adalberto Luis Fonseca Catambi from Sao Tome and Principe will serve as commissioner.
All the match officials arrived in Kaduna on Thursday.
Coach Abdullahi Isa, himself a veteran of several Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations finals and FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Championships, has a squad of fit, battle-hardened and high-spirited players to pick from, including Adams, Ohwoferia, Godwin Tale, Victor Tale, Egan-Osi Ekujimi, Chidozie Frank, Isah Arome and Hassan Abdullahi.
A draw or victory on Saturday will send the Nigerian boys to the finals in Egypt. Hosts Egypt, as well as Morocco and Tanzania, whose opponents Angola and Uganda respectively withdrew from the qualifiers, are already through to the 8-team finals.
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It promises to be a good tournament.