Nigeria’s Sand Eagles ended their two-match friendly series against African champions Senegal without a victory after suffering another 6-4 defeat in Kaduna on Monday.
The result was a frustrating conclusion to Nigeria’s preparations for their upcoming Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations qualifying battle against Ghana, but the performances also gave coach Abdullahi Isa valuable competitive minutes against one of the strongest beach soccer teams on the continent.
Played at the Murtala Muhammed Square Beach Soccer Arena in Kaduna, the encounter produced another entertaining contest between two sides with a long history of rivalry in African beach soccer.
Senegal, the reigning African champions, struck first through Libasse Mbaye, putting the visitors ahead as they looked to build on their 6-4 victory over Nigeria in Saturday’s opening friendly.
The Sand Eagles responded quickly.
Hassan Abdullahi restored parity for Nigeria, bringing the hosts back into the contest and giving them renewed confidence after conceding the opening goal.
Nigeria then completed the turnaround in the second period when Hamza Manga found the net to put the Sand Eagles 2-1 ahead.
For a team that had been away from competitive international action for two years, Nigeria showed considerable fighting spirit and refused to be intimidated by Senegal’s continental pedigree.
However, Senegal’s experience soon became evident.
Nigeria’s Godspower Igudia inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, allowing the defending champions to draw level at 2-2.
The setback did not immediately break Nigeria’s momentum. The Sand Eagles regained the lead in the third period when Sodiq Umar scored to make it 3-2.
At that stage, Nigeria appeared capable of producing the result they wanted after losing the opening encounter by the same 6-4 scoreline.
Senegal, however, once again demonstrated why they have dominated African beach soccer in recent years.
Mamadou Sylla restored parity before Assane Ba put Senegal in front, completing another dangerous spell from the visitors.
The pressure continued to build on the Sand Eagles, and Senegal extended their advantage when Mandione Laye Diagne found the net.
Goalkeeper Oussaynou Faye then added another for Senegal, taking the score to 6-3 and putting the result beyond Nigeria’s immediate reach.
Nigeria refused to surrender completely.
Hassan Abubakar pulled one goal back to reduce the deficit to two, but the Sand Eagles could not produce another late comeback as Senegal held on for a second consecutive 6-4 victory.
The defeat completed a difficult two-match series for Nigeria, who conceded 12 goals across the two encounters while scoring eight.
Yet the results cannot be viewed entirely negatively.
The matches represented some of Nigeria’s most important preparation in recent years, particularly after the Sand Eagles endured a lengthy period without competitive international football.
Senegal provided exactly the kind of demanding opposition Nigeria needed before returning to competitive action. The African champions have won the last five editions of the Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations and are preparing to defend their continental title on home sand.
For Nigeria, the focus now shifts away from friendlies and towards a much more important assignment.
The Sand Eagles will face Ghana’s Black Sharks in a two-legged Beach Soccer AFCON qualifying tie, with the first leg scheduled for October 10 in Kaduna before the return fixture in Accra on October 18.
That qualifier will provide a much clearer assessment of whether the lessons from the Senegal series have been absorbed.
Nigeria’s attack has offered encouragement, with the team scoring four goals in each of the two matches. The bigger concern, however, remains defensive organisation after conceding six goals on both occasions.
Coach Abdullahi Isa will therefore have plenty to analyse before the Ghana encounter.
The Sand Eagles may have lost twice to Senegal, but they have gained something potentially more valuable than a friendly victory: competitive exposure against a side that has consistently set the standard in African beach soccer.
Nigeria now have little time to dwell on the defeats.
The Ghana qualifiers are approaching, and with a place at the continental finals at stake, the Sand Eagles must turn the experience gained against Senegal into a stronger, more disciplined performance when the matches begin to count.
