Beach soccer: Nigeria, Brazil tango In Dubai

The Beach Eagles train twice a day as they prepare for the competition.

 

Only three of 18 invited footballers are yet to report to the Supersand Eagles’ training camp in Badagry, Lagos, as preparations are intensified for the 8-nation Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup competition in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, between October 30 and November 3.

Nigeria, Africa’s sole representative in the tournament, is already lined up to face the likes of four-time world champions, Brazil, in the competition.

The tournament will also feature reigning world champions, Russia; host, United Arab Emirates; next year’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup host, Tahiti; United States of America; Japan; and Switzerland.

Already, the participating teams have been drawn into two groups of four teams each, with UAE, Russia, Tahiti and USA in Group A and Nigeria, Brazil, Japan and Switzerland in Group B.

The Nigerian team, under the watchful eyes of Coach Adamu Ejo, now trains twice a day after maintaining once-a-day training for the past few days.

Nigeria’s Supersand Eagles reached the quarter finals at last year’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Ravenna, Italy, and won the four-Nation Invitational Tournament held in Lagos, styled COPA Lagos, in December 2011; mauling four-time world champions Brazil, England, and South Africa on their way to glory.

The tournament in Dubai is expected to put the Nigerian team in great shape for the defence of their title at this year’s COPA Lagos, set for December 14- 16.