Ghana’s Black Sharks have left the country for Nigeria ahead of the first leg of the two-legged qualifying tie against the Sand Eagles for a place at the 2026 CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations.
The Ghanaian delegation departed Accra in the afternoon of Thursday, October 8, after their initial scheduled 9:00 a.m. flight to Abuja was delayed by several hours.
The team had arrived at the airport around 7:00 a.m. to complete the necessary travel formalities, only to be informed of the significant delay. The setback disrupted the team’s original travel schedule but did not prevent the squad from eventually setting off for Nigeria.
Upon arrival in Abuja, the Black Sharks are expected to connect to Kaduna, where they will complete their preparations for Saturday’s opening encounter against the Sand Eagles.
Black Sharks Set For Kaduna Battle
The 22-member Ghana delegation consists of 15 players and seven members of the technical and support team. It is being led by the Chairman of the Ghana Football Association’s Beach Soccer Committee.
The Black Sharks are scheduled to face Nigeria at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 10, in the first leg of the final qualifying round.
The return fixture will be played on Sunday, October 18, at the Keta Beach Soccer Arena, also known as Emancipation Beach, where Ghana will have the opportunity to complete the assignment on home sand.
CAF has placed Ghana and Nigeria among the seven second-round ties that will determine the teams joining hosts and defending champions Senegal at the continental finals.
The other ties include Côte d’Ivoire against Mauritania, Tanzania versus Mozambique, Seychelles against Malawi, Burundi against Uganda, Angola against Egypt and Libya against Morocco.
Nigeria, meanwhile, enter the tie having used a pair of friendlies against reigning African champions Senegal as part of its preparations. The Sand Eagles lost both matches, including a 6-4 defeat in their second meeting, but the games provided valuable competitive exposure after a period without regular international competition.
Ghana Seeking Fourth AFCON Appearance
For the Black Sharks, qualification would represent a return to the continental stage after missing the previous edition.
Ghana has made three appearances at the Beach Soccer AFCON, first competing at the finals in 2015 before returning in 2016 and 2024. However, the Black Sharks have yet to progress beyond the group stage in any of their three appearances.
Their 2024 campaign in Egypt ended with a 10-3 victory over Tanzania, although defeats to hosts Egypt and Morocco meant Ghana exited alongside Tanzania before the semi-finals.
The Black Sharks therefore have an opportunity not only to return to the competition but also to build on their previous continental experience by securing another appearance at the finals.
Senegal 2026 Carries World Cup Stakes
The 2026 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations will be hosted by Senegal from November 7 to 15, with eight nations set to compete for continental honours.
Senegal enter the tournament as both hosts and defending champions and have established themselves as the dominant force in African beach soccer, winning a record five consecutive editions, including the 2024 tournament in Egypt.
Beyond the continental title, qualification carries an additional incentive. The tournament will determine Africa’s representatives for the 2027 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, making the Black Sharks’ tie with Nigeria significant beyond simply securing a place in Senegal.
With no room for a second chance after the two legs, Ghana will need to produce a strong result in Nigeria before returning home for the decisive encounter in Keta.
The aggregate winner over the two matches will secure one of the seven qualification places available alongside hosts Senegal at the 2026 Beach Soccer AFCON.
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