Nigeria have failed to reach the Beach Soccer African Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals after the Supersand Eagles lost to Mauritania on away goal rule after a 10-10 aggregate score.
The two-time African champions secured a 5-4 win in the first leg in Nouakchott last Saturday, with goals from Emeka Ogbonna, Emmanuel Ohwoferia, and Taiwo Adams, and a brace from old warhorse Victor Tale.
Abdullahi Isa’s team were favoured to wrap up qualification in the reverse encounter at the Beach Soccer Arena inside the Murtala Muhammed Square, Kaduna, on Saturday, but capitulated 6-5 to the visitors, who progressed on away goal rule.
Nigeria thus failed to cap off their return to international beach soccer with a continental ticket despite needing only a draw to grab a ticket to this year’s Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt.
A draw or victory would have sent the Nigerian boys to the finals. Hosts Egypt, as well as Morocco and Tanzania, whose opponents Angola and Uganda, respectively, withdrew from the qualifiers, are already through to the 8-team finals.
Nigeria have won the Beach Soccer AFCON twice (2007 and 2009), ranking second behind Ivory Coast who have won the tournament seven times.
