TheCable

Nigeria’s Supersand Eagles on Thursday night departed country to participate in the 9th FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup taking place in Nassau, capital of The Bahamas.

Eight of the players that made the final cut of 12 travelled on Thursday night along with the coaches and backroom staff, while the remaining four (who only got their transit entry visas into the US on Thursday) are scheduled to fly out on Tuesday.

Thursday’s group flew aboard Delta Airline, to connect Atlanta, US before the short flight into Nassau.

Coach Adamu Adamu, who saw the Supersand Eagles to a 7th place finish at the 2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup finals in Ravenna, Italy, said: “This is the biggest stage in world football, and we are battle ready to give our very best.”

“We are not new to this level. In 2011, we came close to making the semi finals but lost to Brazil after extra time in Italy.

“I am happy that I still have a good number of players who featured in that competition, and we will approach the tournament in Nassau with confidence and the right mental attitude.”

Nigeria participated in four of the previous eight FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup competitions, crashing out at group stage in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2006 and in Dubai, UAE in 2009, but making it to the quarter-finals in Rio de Janeiro in 2007 and in Ravenna, Italy, six years ago.

The Supersand Eagles’ first Group B match in Nassau comes up on Thursday next week, against Italy, after which the team will square up against Iran and Mexico.

SUPERSAND EAGLES WORLD CUP SQUAD

Godwin Anyalogu (GK); Emmanuel Owhoferia; Ogbonnaya Okemiri; Taiwo Adams; Godspower Igudia; Victor Tale; Isiaka Olawale; Abu Azeez; Emeka Ogbonna; Bartholomew Ibenegbu; Suleiman Mohammed; Paul Danjuma (GK)