LOC expresses readiness to host best AFCON Beach Soccer

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the 2016 CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations has expressed its readiness to make the event the best in the history of beach soccer on the continent.

The tournament serves as a qualifier for the FIFA World Beach Soccer championship scheduled to hold in Bahamas next year.

Speaking on Saturday in Lagos at a media parley/unveiling of the tournament’s logo, Chairman of the LOC and first vice president of the Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF) Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi having lauded the Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode for accepting to host the tournament, informed that logistics have been put in place to ensure a hitch-free competition.

While speaking after he officially unveiled the logo, the chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, (LSSC), Mr Deji Tinubu pledged the support of the commission to the NFF and  LOC to ensure the hosting of  a world-class event.

“What we are witnessing today is in tandem with the vision and mission of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to make Lagos State a sport hub in the country and I want to say that with the effort we are going to put into the organisation of this event, Nigeria will in no distance time host the world beach soccer,” he said.

The Director of Organisation for the event and initiator of Copa Lagos, Samson Adamu, while giving an insight into the event revealed that the aim was to make Lagos State a premium tourism destination.

He disclosed that Nigeria will play in group A of the tournament scheduled to hold from December 13 to 18 at the Eko Atlantic.

Other countries in group A tagged ‘death zone’ are Egypt, Ghana, and the Ivory Coast, while Senegal, Madagascar, Libya and Morocco will slug it out in group B.

Adamu stated that the annual Copa Lagos will prelude the CAF Beach Soccer AFCON with Nigeria playing against a yet to be confirmed opponent on December 11.

“Without mincing words, I think we are all set to have a befitting event having put in so much since before getting to this stage we are and I see Nigeria not only qualifying for the World Cup but emerging the champion of the tournament,” he said.