Anambra Beach Soccer Warriors’ talisman, Emeka Ogbonna, has fired a warning shot to rivals ahead of the 2025 Nigeria Beach Soccer League (NBSL) Super Finals in Abuja, declaring that the team is primed to step up from last season’s near miss and clinch the national crown.
Ogbonna, a key member of the Super Sand Eagles squad that marked Nigeria’s return to international beach soccer last year, says the Warriors have evolved from underdogs to genuine title contenders after finishing runners-up in 2024.
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“Last year we came second from an underdog position,” Ogbonna said with confidence. “This year, with the preparation we’ve put in place, we believe we will be crowned champions of the 2025 Nigeria Beach Soccer League.”
The forward noted that the Super Finals will be fiercely contested, stressing that there are no favourites at this stage.
“It’s the Super Finals — a challenge for every team. I don’t think any side is an underdog now. Everyone has pushed themselves, and we’re not playing under pressure.”
Ogbonna also reflected on the national team’s revival, commending the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for reigniting interest and competitiveness in the sport. Nigeria’s return to the beach soccer scene in 2024 saw the Super Sand Eagles win one of their qualifiers in Mauritania before narrowly losing out 6–5 on aggregate.
He credited the NBSL as a major catalyst for talent grooming and restoring Nigeria’s beach soccer reputation.
“The league has helped develop players and made people understand that we can go far — not just in Africa but globally. I want to thank the NFF for bringing back beach soccer. This platform has helped us a great deal.”
Ogbonna reserved special praise for NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, the federation’s Secretary, and NBSL coordinator Alhaji Mahmud Hadejia, describing Hadejia as “a blessing to beach soccer in Nigeria.”
After a long hiatus following the 2019 World Cup in Paraguay, Nigeria’s return to the sand has reignited national ambition — and Ogbonna believes the Warriors are ready to ride that momentum to glory in Abuja.
With bragging rights, national supremacy, and potential international exposure at stake, the 2025 NBSL Super Finals promises a blockbuster finish to a rapidly growing sport that’s reclaiming its place in Nigeria’s football ecosystem
