Nigeria To Face Egypt, CIV, Ghana In Beach Soccer Nations Cup

TAIWO ADELU

Two–time African champions Nigeria will confront familiar foes Egypt, Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana in the group phase of the second edition of CAF Beach Soccer Cup of Nations that Nigeria will host 13th – 18th December 2016.

At the Draw Ceremony held at the CAF headquarters in Egypt on Saturday, champions Madagascar were drawn with Morocco, Libya and last year’s losing finalists Senegal in Group B.

NFF 1st Vice President, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi is at the head of the main organizing committee set up by Nigeria for the event, which holds at the Eko Atlantic Beach.

The Supersand Eagles have beaten the Ivorians a number of times while losing to them a few times, but have never lost to Ghana and Egypt.

Nigeria beat Egypt 4-1 at the 2015 finals in Seychelles last year, to add to earlier triumphs over the North Africans in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Last year in Seychelles, the Supersand Eagles edged the Ivorians 7-6 (overtime) in the final group phase match, before trouncing them 9-1 in the third place match. However, the Ivorians came to Lagos to defeat the Nigerians at the COPA Lagos Invitational Tournament.

Nigeria defeated Ghana 7-4 at the African Championship in Morocco in 2013 and then lashed the West African brothers 5-2 at the Power Horse Invitational Tournament in South Africa last year.