Admin I November 3, 2016
Abuja – Nigeria is set to host the second edition of the CAF Beach Soccer Cup of Nations next month. Here are some facts you may need to know about the local organizing committee as well as the competition itself.
Nigeria, through the NFF, launched the bid to host the tournament in August 2015. At its meeting in Kigali, Rwanda on 5th February 2016, the CAF Executive Committee designated Nigeria as host nation for the competition.
Through a letter dated 16th February 2016, addressed to NFF President Amaju Pinnick and signed by CAF Secretary General Hicham El Amrani, CAF conveyed to the NFF the decision for Nigeria to host.
In the letter, CAF approved the decision by the NFF to switch the event from 2017 to December 2016, considering that the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup will hold in April 2017.
CAF also took the decision to move the competition to even years, given that in odd years, the body organizes three Africa Cup of Nations championships (the Africa Cup of Nations; the U20 Africa Cup of Nations and; the U17 Africa Cup of Nations).
The competition is the second edition of the CAF Beach Soccer Cup of Nations. It is the second time that CAF is hosting the event; hitherto, it had been hosted by Beach Soccer WorldWide. CAF took over the organization when Seychelles hosted in April 2015.
The 2nd CAF Beach Soccer Cup of Nations will hold 13th – 18th December 2016, at the Eko Atlantic Beach, Lagos.
The event will serve as Africa’s Qualifying Tournament for the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, with the two finalists to be eligible to participate at the global finals in The Bahamas.
The Local Organizing Committee for the competition was inaugurated on Thursday, 24th March 2016 in Kaduna by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung.
The composition of the LOC: Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi (Chairman); Mr. Samson Adamu (Director of Organization); Hon. (Mrs) Margaret Icheen (Member); Mr. Sunny Moniedafe (Member); Mr. Adeyinka Adeboye (Member); Mr. Salisu Nakande (Member); Mr. Nansel Nimyel (Member); Mr. Bolaji Yusuf (Member); Mr. Athanasius Okon (Member); Mr. Bola Oyeyode (Secretary).
The draw for the tournament has already been conducted. Group A: Nigeria, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire and Egypt. Group B: Madagascar, Libya, Morocco and Senegal.
Nigeria won the competition then known as African Beach Soccer Championship in 2007 and 2009.The LOC plans that the Supersand Eagles play an international match on 11th December 2016, to serve as the COPA Lagos event for this year. It will also serve as tune –up for the Supersand Eagles for the continental showpiece.
