Former Super Sand Eagles captain Isiaka Olawale has expressed disappointment over Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations, calling for improved preparations to prevent a repeat of the setback.
Nigeria’s qualification hopes ended on Sunday after Ghana’s Black Sharks secured a convincing 7-4 victory at the Emancipation Beach Soccer Arena in Keta, completing a 10-7 aggregate triumph over their West African rivals.
The teams had played out a 3-3 draw in the opening leg in Kaduna, leaving the qualification contest evenly balanced before the decisive encounter in Ghana.
Reacting to the elimination, Olawale said he had anticipated a difficult return fixture, particularly with Ghana enjoying home advantage and the backing of their supporters.
The former captain noted that the Black Sharks had already demonstrated their quality during the first leg, making it essential for Nigeria to approach the return encounter with adequate preparation.
He expressed sadness that the Sand Eagles could not overcome the challenge, despite the opportunity to revive Nigeria’s presence at the continental championship.
Olawale stressed that lessons must be drawn from the unsuccessful campaign, urging those responsible for the national team to put better arrangements in place ahead of future competitions.
Ghana’s victory secured their place at the Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations scheduled for November 7–15 in Senegal, while Nigeria will miss the continental finals.
The elimination represents another setback for Nigeria’s efforts to rebuild its beach soccer programme after a period of limited international participation.
For Olawale, the immediate priority is to address the shortcomings exposed by the two-legged contest, particularly the need for stronger preparations and sustained competitive activity.
With Ghana advancing to Senegal 2026, the Sand Eagles must now turn their attention to rebuilding a more competitive team capable of challenging for future continental qualification.
