Nigeria’s Sand Eagles suffered a 6-4 defeat to Senegal in their second friendly at the Murtala Muhammed Square Beach Soccer Pitch in Kaduna on Monday. The result means Senegal completed a double over the hosts, having also recorded a 6-4 victory in the first friendly played last Saturday. Hassan Abdullahi, who scored all four of Nigeria’s goals in the opening encounter, found the net once again in the second game.
Hamza Manga, Sodiq Umar and Hassan Abubakar also got on the scoresheet for the Sand Eagles. For Senegal, Man of the Match Oussaynou Faye, Libasse Mbaye, Mamadou Sylla, Assane Ba and Mandione Laye Diagne were among the scorers, while Nigeria’s Godspower Igudia also scored an own goal. The two friendly matches are part of the Sand Eagles’ preparations for their CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tie against Ghana later this month.
Senegal, the reigning African champions, are using the games to fine-tune their preparations for the Beach Soccer AFCON, having already secured qualification as hosts. Nigeria will host Ghana in the first leg of the qualifying tie at the Murtala Muhammed Square Beach Soccer Pitch in Kaduna on Saturday, October 10, before travelling to Accra for the return leg on Saturday, October 17.
The winner over the two legs will earn a place at the 2026 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations.