Supersand Eagles to play Mauritania in Kaduna

Nigeria’s Beach soccer team Supersand Eagles will host Mauritania in the return leg of their 2024 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Saturday at Murtala Muhammed Square in Kaduna, the Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed.

Nigeria took the lead in the first match after beating Mauritania 5-4 in Nouakchott on Saturday.

In their first international match in five years, coach Abdullahi’s team came from behind twice to beat their home side in a thrilling match.

The highly experienced Emeka Ogbonna scored after just two minutes and 14 seconds to put the Supersand Eagles in the right frame of mind for victory. Another veteran, Emmanuel Ohwoferia, doubled Nigeria’s lead 36 seconds later. The hosts halved their deficit to end the first period 2-1.

In the second period, Mauritania scored twice quickly to take a 3-2 lead before another experienced player, Victor Tale, equalised for Nigeria.

The home side regained the lead early in the third period, but goals from Taiwo Adams and Tale gave Nigeria the victory and the necessary momentum for the return leg.

The NFF last week announced the appointment of Isa, the team’s former assistant coach, as the new head coach, with Christopher Kadiri as assistant coach and Bashar Samaila as goalkeeping coach.

The Supersand Eagles won the Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations in 2007 and 2009. They won a number of silver medals at the same competition and also a couple of bronze medals.

The team has also represented Africa several times at the Beach Soccer World Cup. In 2011, they reached the quarter-finals in Ravenna, Italy, but lost to Brazil after extra time.

The team was withdrawn from international competitions by the NFF following their poor performance at the 2019 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Paraguay.