Nigeria, Brazil, Russia Slug It Out In Dubai

By Lekan Sowande, Abuja.

The Nigeria Football Federation said country’s Beach Soccer National Team, otherwise known as Supersand Eagles, will take part in the Eight-Nation Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup competition in Dubai, United Arab Emirates between 30th October – 3rd November.

The tournament will also feature four-time world champions Brazil, reigning world champions Russia, host United Arab Emirates, next year’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup host Tahiti, United States of America, Japan and Switzerland.

Already, the participating teams have been drawn into two groups of four teams each, with UAE, Russia, Tahiti and USA in Group A and Nigeria, Brazil, Japan and Switzerland in Group B.

  
Participating teams are expected to arrive in Dubai on Sunday, 28th October.

The Nigerian side has been training in Badagry, Lagos State, getting set for the tournament.
The team, under the watchful eyes of Coach Adamu Audu Ejo, now trains twice a day after maintaining once-a-day training for the past few days.

Nigeria’s Supersand Eagles reached the quarter finals at last year’s FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Ravenna, Italy and won the Four-Nation Invitational Tournament held in Lagos, styled COPA Lagos, in December 2011, mauling four-time world champions Brazil, England and South Africa on their way to glory.

The tournament in Dubai is expected to put the Nigeria team in great shape for the defence of their title at this year’s COPA Lagos, set for 14th – 16th December.