NIGERIA will be absent at the 2024 Beach Soccer Nations Cup finals holding in Egypt later in the year no thanks to a 6-5 loss to Mauritania at home in Kaduna.
The team had won the first leg in Nouakchott, Mauritania by 5-4. The two-legged results meant the teams tied at 10-10 on aggregate. However, the lads from Nouakchott advance on the away goal rule having scored more goals in Nigeria than what Nigeria did in Mauritania.
It’s been a five-year absence from the African Nations Cup Beach Soccer for Nigeria as the waiting period continues in the competition.
Besides, the African Nations Cup in Cote d’Ivoire early this year, Nigeria has failed to reach the finals of any major male competition either at the national team level or club in the last five years.
Nigeria was stopped in Abuja by Ghana’s Black Stars on the same away goal rule from going to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The U-17, U-20, U-23 as well as the CHAN Eagles have all missed the last two Championships in their various categories.
Before this weekend’s shambolic outing in Kaduna, the U-17 team could not punch their ticket to the AFCON finals from the WAFU B Championship in Ghana.
The U-20 were a disjointed and disgraceful sight to behold during the 13th African Games in Ghana, just as the U-23 could not reach the current Olympic Games football finals.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s counterparts in Ghana, the Black Sharks, will compete in the 2024 edition of the Africa Cup of Nations after beating Cote d’Ivoire in a two-legged game.
The qualification to the main tournament comes following their 10-5 aggregate win over their counterparts.
Ghana came from behind to win 2-5 in the return leg of the fixture on Saturday, 27 July having won the home game in Keta 5-3 a week earlier.
The Ivorians led 2-1 at halftime in the second-leg encounter. However, the Black Sharks scored four goals in the second half to turn the tie around.
Wise Nyamadi scored the equaliser after the break before captain Alex Osah and Precious Torgbor got on the scoresheet to make it 4-2.
Jude Akile netted the fifth goal of the day for the Black Sharks to ensure they put the game beyond the reach of the Sand Elephants.
Eighteen-Eleven Media