Lagos, Oct 30, 2016 – The Local Organizing Committee of the Nigeria 2016 CAF Beach Soccer Cup of Nations on Saturday gave a progress report on its preparations to host a tournament that will set a mark for other major beach soccer competitions globally.
At a press conference in Lagos attended by members of the LOC, the Nigeria Football Federation and officials of the Lagos State Government, LOC chairman Seyi Akinwunmi disclosed that the committee has been working assiduously for the past six months, for the competition holding 13-18 December 2016.
“We are committed to hosting the best –ever CAF Beach Soccer Championship. Our tenor is on putting up a world –class event, and we believe that with the support we have received and still receiving from the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, the NFF, the Lagos State Government, we will deliver.
“We are very grateful to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for his decision to support the event. Nigeria 2016 will be a show –stopper. The annual COPA Lagos Invitational Tournament, which has been on for the past five years, has shown us how interesting and how much fun beach soccer can be.”
Akinwunmi, who is also 1st Vice President of NFF, added that Nigeria has been challenged to put out all the stops to put up a fabulous fiesta after Seychelles successfully hosted the 1st CAF Beach Soccer Cup of Nations in 2015, and with The Bahamas preparing to host the 2017 Beach Soccer World Cup.
Chairman of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Hon. Deji Tinubu unveiled the logo of the championship, and assured that the Lagos State Government will work harmoniously with the NFF and the LOC to achieve the objective of getting the whole world to say positive things about Nigeria.
“We want people to see, and to say positive things about our country. We see no reason why Nigeria cannot host the Beach Soccer World Cup. The capacity of Nigeria is huge, and what Samson Adamu has been doing with the COPA Lagos is tremendous. There will be something massive in December.”
President of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Honour Sirawoo, pledged the support of sports journalists to the LOC, saying the body should see media representatives as partners in the cause of delivering a successful tournament.
Also at the press parley were Director of Organization, Mr. Samson Adamu, LOC secretary Bola Oyeyode, LOC members Sunny Moniedafe, Salisu Nakande, Bolaji Yusuf, Nansel Nimyel and Athanasius Okon, NRA president Tade Azeez, Dr. Kweku Tandoh, Mr. Mojeed Adegbindin and a host of Lagos State Government officials.
CAF awarded the hosting right to host the 2nd Beach Soccer Cup of Nations to Nigeria through a letter addressed to NFF President Amaju Pinnick in February this year. The tournament is also Africa’s qualifying event for the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, taking place in The Bahamas.
Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire will lock horns in Group A, while Cup holders Madagascar play Libya, Morocco and Senegal in Group B.
