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| Supersand Eagles On Arrival At Rigasa Train Station, Kaduna |
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| Guard Of Honour For Super Sand Eagles At Rigasa Train Station Kaduna |
By, Zakari Haruna, Kaduna
The Supersand Eagles have made a triumphant return to the international stage with a first-leg win in Mauritania, marking their re-entry into the African Nations Beach Soccer Championship after a five-year absence. The head of delegation, Hon. Otuekong Nse Essien, an Executive Member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Futsal and Beach Soccer, expressed immense satisfaction and gratitude for the victory.
“We feel so happy and thank God Almighty for this victory on the road. We have been out of this tournament for five years, and our return with a win is a delight to all of us. Representing over 200 million Nigerians is no joke. We are aware of the huge responsibilities and seize the opportunity for the good of the team,” said Hon. Essien.
The team’s preparation, which included a two-week camp following the Super Four tournament, was key to their success. Hon. Essien extended thanks to the NFF President and board members for their support and motivation, emphasizing that nothing short of victory was expected.
“Mauritania was a good host. From the airport to our hotel, we were treated well with a resounding protocol, and they made sure we were comfortable,” added Hon. Essien.
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| National Coordinator, NBSL, Welcomes Hon Otuekong Nse Essien At Rigasa Train Station Kaduna |
The President of the African Beach Soccer Union and National Coordinator of the National Beach Soccer League, Mahmud Hadeja, who welcomed the team back to Kaduna State, congratulated them on their first-leg win.
“I must say congratulations to Nigerians, the Nigeria Football Federation, the fans, and the Supersand Eagles players for an away victory in the first leg of the two-legged qualifying match. It is an exciting time after about five years of not competing at this stage, and this victory gives us extra motivation going into the second leg here in Kaduna,” said Hadeja.
He acknowledged the significance of the away win and praised the coaches and players for their efforts. However, he reminded everyone that beach soccer can be unpredictable and urged continued focus and support.
“We have a big chance now after picking an away win in Mauritania, but it’s not yet over. We have to keep reminding them that this is beach soccer, and surprises can happen. We expect the boys to perform with the support we are seeing from the citizens of Kaduna, the government, and everyone, including the media,” Hadeja added.
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| Abdullahi Isa, Supersand Eagles coach |
The Supersand Eagles coach, Abdullahi Isa, described the victory as massive for Nigerians. “Winning away from home is a very big victory, and we are so excited that we won it. On injury concerns, there are none, and the good thing is that more players are in the camp, ready for selection. With the combination of experienced players and young fresh legs, we are well-prepared for the second encounter,” Isa explained.
The team’s captain, Sale Victor, expressed his joy and confidence, saying “It’s a thing of joy, but we believed we could get a result, and thank God it happened. We want to tell the country we are capable, and we played according to the game plan, which gave us victory,” said Victor.
Looking ahead to the second leg, Victor noted that despite expecting a tough battle, the team is determined.
“Even though it will be a battle, if we can win there, we know we can beat them again. We know they will be determined to avenge the loss in the first leg,” Victor stated.
The Supersand Eagles now turn their focus to the second leg in Kaduna, with the hopes of securing their place in the African Nations Beach Soccer Championship in Egypt. The team calls on all Nigerians to come out and support them to ensure victory and continue their journey to greater success.
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