Nigeria failed to reach the Beach Soccer African Cup of Nations finals after the Supersand Eagles lost to Mauritania on the away goal rule following a 10-10 aggregate score.
The two-time African champions won the first leg 5-4 in Nouakchott last Saturday, with goals from Emeka Ogbonna, Emmanuel Ohwoferia, and Taiwo Adams, and a brace from veteran player Victor Tale.
In the return leg at the Beach Soccer Arena inside the Murtala Muhammed Square in Kaduna on Saturday, Abdullahi Isa’s team was expected to secure qualification. However, they lost 6-5 to the visitors, who advanced on the away goal rule.
Despite needing only a draw to qualify, Nigeria missed the opportunity to secure a spot at this year’s Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations finals in Egypt.
A draw or win would have been enough to send the Nigerian team to the finals. Hosts Egypt, along with Morocco and Tanzania, have already qualified for the 8-team finals, as their opponents Angola and Uganda withdrew from the qualifiers.
Nigeria has previously won the Beach Soccer AFCON twice, in 2007 and 2009, placing them second in the tournament’s history behind Ivory Coast, who have won it seven times.
