Nigeria Draw Ghana in Beach Soccer AFCON Qualifiers

Nigeria face Ghana in 2026 Beach Soccer AFCON qualifiers as Supersand Eagles seek return after missing the previous edition.

Damilare Adebayo · August 26, 2026 · 168

Nigeria have been drawn against Ghana in the second round of the 2026 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers following Tuesday’s draw in Egypt.

The West African rivals will battle for a place at the continental tournament, with the first leg scheduled to take place between October 9 and 11, 2026.

The return leg will be played between October 16 and 18, with both teams seeking to secure qualification for the finals in Senegal.

The Supersand Eagles will be determined to overcome their regional rivals and return to the continental competition after missing the last edition.

Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2024 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations after losing to Mauritania on the away-goals rule following a 10-10 aggregate draw.

The two-time African champions had won the first leg 5-4 in Nouakchott, with Emeka Ogbonna, Emmanuel Ohwoferia and Taiwo Adams finding the net, while veteran Victor Tale scored twice.

Nigeria were expected to complete the job in the return leg at the Beach Soccer Arena inside Murtala Muhammed Square in Kaduna.

However, the Supersand Eagles suffered a 6-5 defeat, allowing Mauritania to progress on the away-goals rule.

The Nigeria Football Federation subsequently moved to revive the national beach soccer programme in 2024 after a five-year hiatus, establishing a committee to oversee local competitions and other matters concerning the sport.

Nigeria had previously been a major force in African beach soccer, winning the Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations in 2007 and 2009.

The country also reached the quarter-finals of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Italy in 2011.

Before the five-year break, Nigeria’s most recent appearance at a major beach soccer tournament came at the 2019 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Paraguay, where the team failed to win a match.

The upcoming qualifiers against Ghana therefore offer the Supersand Eagles an opportunity to return to the continental stage and revive Nigeria’s status among Africa’s leading beach soccer nations.