The Supersand Eagles of Nigeria have been edged out by Mauritania and will not be part of the 2024 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations, set to be hosted by Egypt.
In a gripping second-leg match held at the Murtala Muhammed Square in Kaduna, Mauritania managed to secure their spot in the continental tournament through an aggregate victory.
The clash began with a dramatic tone as Mauritania’s goalkeeper opened the scoring, but Nigeria’s Taiwo Adams quickly leveled the score. The first half ended with a 1-1 draw, setting the stage for an intense second half.
Mauritania regained the lead, only for Nigeria’s Abdullahi Hassan to equalize again with a well-taken free kick, making it 2-2. Despite Nigeria’s resilience and multiple attempts to take control, Mauritania scored once more to lead at the end of the second half.
The final quarter saw an escalation in goal-scoring as Mauritania overturned their first-leg deficit. With a series of goals, they confirmed their place in the Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations, ending Nigeria’s hopes for the tournament.
The Supersand Eagles, who returned to international beach soccer after a four-year hiatus, will now look forward to regrouping and aiming for a stronger performance in future competitions. For the two-time African champions, this setback is a reminder of the fierce competition in continental beach soccer.
