With registration for the forthcoming Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations (BSAFCON) Qualifiers closing this week, beach soccer enthusiasts and stakeholders have been clamouring for the return of the national team to international competitions.
Since the team was disbanded in 2019 by Amaju Melvin Pinnick led the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for abysmal results at the World Cup stating a return when their is a beach soccer league, the team has not been registered for any international competitions.
The former captain of the team, Isiaka Olawale is urging Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau-led NFF to reinstate the team at a time when the Nigeria Beach Soccer League (NBSL) is in its fourth season.
“It’s a very good thing for the national beach soccer team to be reinstated,” Olawale told kick442.com
“When we follow the record of the beach soccer team in Africa and at the World Cup, I think we have done a lot with recognition. Our achievements can also speak for us. I would be happy and glad if the NFF could bring back the national team.
“For close to five years now, we have not been participating in any beach soccer tournament. Some of our friends in some African countries normally ask about the problem that is stopping us from participating. They also know what is going on as everybody is on social media. They are also praying and appealing to the Federation to bring back the national team because they missed Nigeria.”
The NBSL is in its fourth season with holders Kebbi BSC emerging as the top-ranked beach soccer team in Africa after representing the continent at two Beach Soccer Club World Cups.
This according to Olawale is a testament to the development and abundant talents in the game while pleading with the NFF to register the team for the next international tournament.
“As the former captain of the team, I am just appealing to the NFF to try as much as possible to bring back the team because we have a lot of talents and good players even though we started playing the league four years ago, there are good players that can represent the country. I think if they can bring back the national team, it will help the players and everybody even as a nation. If there is competition without Nigeria, the vacuum will be there. People know what we can do.” He continued.
“They know that Nigeria has lots of talents. Even though we didn’t have the league in the past, we performed very well. Now that the President of the African Beach Soccer Union, Mahmud Hadejia tried to make sure that we start the league about three years ago and tried to get some good players that can represent the country so if NFF can bring back the team, I think everybody will be happy and they will see the new national beach soccer team with lots of young talents that are ready to fight for the shirt and represent the country.” He concluded.
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