The Moment (London)
Oladipo Okubanjo
17 December 2011
FOR lovers of beach football, Eko Atlantic Beach on Victoria Island in Lagos is the place to be Sunday December 18, as Nigeria’s national beach soccer team, the Supersand Eagles, play against four-time World Champions Brazil in a potentially explosive encounter in the Copa Lagos tournament.
When both teams met four months ago in the quarterfinal of the 2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Ravenna, Italy, the Brazilians ran away with a 10-8 victory after extra time.
This time, the Nigeria Football Federation President, Aminu Maigari, has challenged the Supersand Eagles to win the Copa Lagos trophy for Nigerians as a Christmas gift.
Speaking to the players at their Eko Hotel camp in Lagos, Maigari lamented that Nigeria football was at a low ebb at the moment and the Supersand Eagles could help erase memories of poor outings by the national teams in the last quarter of the outgoing year.
He said it would also be important to have something to present to President Goodluck Jonathan as the year is ending.
‘Our football is at a low and football fans are not happy. I want you to go all out and win the Copa Lagos tournament in order for us to have something to give Nigerians as Christmas present. You have an opportunity to make us all smile with only few days left in the year.
‘You have started well by beating South Africa on Friday; all you need do now is go all out and conquer England and Brazil,’ said Maigari.
The Coach Adamu Audu Ejo-led Supersand Eagles however, continued their good running in the championship Friday December 16 by beating England 5-2 in their encounter.
AllAfrica – All the Time