Nigeria’s Super Sand Eagles will begin their quest for a place at the 2026 CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations when they face Ghana’s Black Sharks in the first leg of their second-round qualifying tie on Saturday.

The highly anticipated West African encounter is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. Nigerian time on October 10 at the Murtala Muhammed Square Sports Complex in Kaduna, where Nigeria have been preparing for the two-legged contest.  

The tie offers both countries a chance to secure a place at the continental finals in Senegal, scheduled for November 7–15, 2026. The aggregate winner over the two legs will qualify for the eight-team tournament, which also serves as Africa’s qualifying pathway to the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.  

Match details

• Fixture: Nigeria vs Ghana

• Competition: 2026 CAF Beach Soccer AFCON qualifiers — second round, first leg

• Date: Saturday, October 10, 2026

• Kick-off: 3:00 p.m. Nigerian time

• Venue: Murtala Muhammed Square Sports Complex, Kaduna

• Second leg: October 18, 2026, at the Keta Beach Soccer Arena, Ghana

• Qualification format: Two-legged tie, decided on aggregate

The second-leg fixture is scheduled for October 18 at the Keta Beach Soccer Arena, also known as Emancipation Beach.  

Preview: Sand Eagles target first-leg advantage

Nigeria return to the continental qualifying stage looking to convert their preparations into a strong result against a Ghanaian side eager to return to the Beach Soccer AFCON.

The Sand Eagles have been training in Kaduna under coach Christopher Kadiri, with head coach Abdullahi Isa occupied with the Golden Eaglets’ preparations for the WAFU-B U17 Championship. The Nigeria Football Federation previously confirmed that all 20 invited players had reported to camp.  

Nigeria are two-time African beach soccer champions, having won the continental title in 2006 and 2007. However, the team missed qualification for the most recent editions of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup and will be keen to use the AFCON campaign as an opportunity to re-establish themselves internationally.  

Ghana’s Black Sharks arrive for the contest after preparing in the Volta Region. Their 22-member delegation, comprising 15 players and seven technical staff, travelled to Nigeria on October 8 ahead of the first leg.  

The Black Sharks will hope to take a positive result back to Ghana, where they will have home support for the return fixture. Nigeria, meanwhile, will be aiming to build an advantage before travelling to Keta.

With qualification determined across two matches, the first leg will be important, although neither side can afford to treat the tie as settled before the return fixture.

How to watch Nigeria vs Ghana live

As of publication, an official livestream for the match will be confirmed via Nigeria Beach Soccer League social media and WhatsApp channel accounts.

Fans should check announcements from the Nigeria Football Federation and the Ghana Football Association for any last-minute broadcast or streaming details. Supporters are advised to rely on official federation channels rather than unverified livestream links.

Nigeria probable line-up

Note: The NFF has published the 20-player squad, but an official starting line-up has not been announced. The following is therefore a provisional selection, not a confirmed team.

Probable formation: 1-3-1

• Goalkeeper: Godwin Tale

• Defenders: Victor Tale, Taiwo Adams, Emmanuel Ohwoferia

• Attacking players: Dozie Frank, Stanley Ekwe

Other players available for selection include goalkeepers Nuhu Noma Aiki and Olalekan Oladipo; defenders Clement Eganosi, Effiong Eyo and Chinweze Gabriel; and forwards Tanko Emmanuel, Ekene Obi, Hassan Abubakar, Sadiq Umar, Kazeem Oyewunmi, Hassan Abdullahi, Godspower Igudia, Hamza Bagudu and Hamza Isa.  

The final selection will depend on the technical crew’s tactical plans and assessment of the players ahead of kick-off.

Ghana probable line up

ALEXANDER ADJETEY ADJEI 

DANIEL KUDODAH

JOSEPH AWUNISIE

RICHMOND MISHIMAWU

JOHNSON NYADEDZOR 

PRECIOUS KWAKU TORGBO 

REUBEN LARLI SEMABIA

RICHARD MARTEI OSAI 

RANSFORD CLOVIS AFOTEY 

MAWULI SOSU 

HOPE KWABLA ATADIKA 

ROBERT KWAKU NYADEDZOR 

TICOR KINI 

PRINCE MARTEI 

WISE NYAMADI

What is at stake?

The Nigeria–Ghana winner will book a place at the 2026 Beach Soccer AFCON finals in Senegal, joining hosts and reigning champions Senegal and the other six second-round winners.

The continental tournament will run from November 7 to 15 and will also provide Africa’s route to the 2027 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.  

For the Sand Eagles, a positive first-leg result in Kaduna would provide a platform for the return match in Ghana. The Black Sharks, however, will be determined to keep the tie open ahead of their home fixture.

Saturday’s encounter therefore marks the opening chapter in a two-match battle, with both teams needing consistency across the tie to reach the continental stage.