Abuja- In a significant boost for Nigeria’s Beach Soccer National Team, the Supersand Eagles, the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has announced that the team will receive equal treatment akin to the Super Eagles and other national teams.
This commitment was made during the inauguration of the Federation’s Futsal and Beach Soccer Sub-Committee at the NFF Secretariat in Abuja.
Addressing the committee members, Alhaji Gusau emphasized the importance of Nigeria’s participation in all facets of football. “Nigeria is a big footballing nation, and it will be inappropriate if we continue to stay out of some activities that other African countries are involved in, football-wise.
We will do whatever is necessary to restore Nigeria’s presence in futsal and beach soccer,” he said. He assured the committee that both financial support and other necessary resources would be provided to ensure that futsal and beach soccer enjoy the same status as other national teams.
The Supersand Eagles have historically brought honor to Nigeria, having won the Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations in 2007 and 2009, and securing several silver and bronze medals in subsequent tournaments. Notably, the team represented Africa at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup multiple times, achieving a remarkable quarter-final finish in Ravenna, Italy, in 2011, where they narrowly lost to Brazil in overtime.
However, the NFF withdrew the team from international competitions five years ago following heavy defeats at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Paraguay. This move marked a temporary hiatus for the team on the global stage.
The newly inaugurated Futsal and Beach Soccer Sub-Committee, chaired by Otuekong Nse Essien, with Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf (Fresh) as vice-chairman, includes notable members such as Hon. Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande, Mr. Richard Jideaka, Alhaji Aminu Mohammed Inuwa, Hajji Liameed Gafaar, and Yabagi Alhaji Baba. The secretary of the committee is Abubakar D. Umar Barde.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by key NFF officials, including Deputy General Secretary Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme and several directors of the Federation. This renewed focus on beach soccer and futsal is expected to revitalize Nigeria’s participation and competitiveness in these sports, bringing them back to the forefront of international competitions.
