The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has tasked the Super Sand Eagles (SSE) to remain focused in their quest to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) which holds later in the year in Egypt.
Sporting Tribune reports that SSE, led by first and former Beach Eagles captain, Abdullahi Isa, are returning to the continent again after five five-year hiatus.
NFF President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, while addressing the players at the Sunday Dankaro House on Thursday, urged the team and the technical crew to represent Nigeria well by qualifying for the AFCON saying the football house will do all it takes to ensure that they are properly looked after.
“Because of the way we saw your commitment that is why we think it’s important for us to bring it back and you happen to be the first set of players that we are going to use to see how we can bring back beach soccer back in Nigeria.
“I want you to try and use this opportunity to encourage us so that at least we’ll do more. You should therefore take it as a very big test and we pray that you succeed. Though it’s not easy, I still insist that we’ll try as we promise that we’re bringing back beach soccer and we’ll surely bring it back.
“It’s not easy for us because we have a lot of activities but with that, I still say you people must go and compete. I want you to have it at the back of your mind you are going there (Mauritania) to represent Nigeria for a tournament that we’ve been well known, for a game that we’ve been well known in Africa and even in the world because Nigeria has been participating in all the World Cup as well as continental level before we decided to withdraw from participation.
“But now, we are coming back and you are going to be people to encourage us more to do it. You must try as much as possible to do what is right to encourage us. I wish you all the best and we look forward to hearing good results from you so that when you come back you seal it up next week,” the NFF boss told Sporting Tribune.
NFF general secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, also in his word of admonition, called on the team to be of good behaviour by representing Nigeria well in Nouakchott saying the hope of millions of Nigerians rests on their shoulders.
“We’re not going to tell you what to do but you know that the burden of Nigerians are on you as far as beach soccer is concerned. You have what it takes to make Nigeria proud.
“The people who have been saddled with the responsibility of managing beach soccer have done their very best to make sure that they picked you up, they trained you and gave you an enabling environment too. Rest assured that the NFF will do everything within its power to support you to succeed. Remember to be good ambassadors of Nigeria wherever you find yourselves and please, be of good behaviour,” the NFF scribe stated.
National coordinator, Nigeria Beach Soccer League (NBSL) and President of Africa Beach Soccer Union (ABSU) Mahmoud Hadejia and Coach Abdullahi Isa, while thanking the NFF for its support promised that the team will make the country proud by qualifying for the AFCON.
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