Nigeria’s Supersand Eagles battled valiantly but lost at the last moment as Mauritania secured a 6-5 victory, edging out Nigeria on the away goal rule to qualify for this year’s Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations.
The passion, effort, and energy of the two-time African champions at the Beach Soccer Arena, Murtala Muhammed Square, Kaduna, were undermined by a controversial last-minute penalty kick awarded to the visitors by Mozambican referee Dique Salvador Muxanga. The penalty was converted, making the score 6-5, with the aggregate standing at 10-10 in the end. The Mauritanians clinched the final tournament spot in Egypt by scoring one more goal away from home.
Trailing 4-5 from the first leg played in Nouakchott a week ago, Mauritania scored after only three minutes. However, Taiwo Adams, one of Nigeria’s scorers in the first leg, equalized shortly afterward. Mauritania hit the crossbar and attacked Nigeria’s goal area several times, but goalkeeper Godwin Tale thwarted them on most occasions.
The visitors took the lead early in the second period. Hassan Abdullahi, voted the most valuable player of the recently concluded Nigeria Beach Soccer League, equalized with a direct kick. The visitors then extended their lead to two goals from direct kicks before the end of the second period.
In the third period, Nigeria quickly reduced the deficit with Adams scoring again. Mauritania maintained their two-goal lead from the penalty spot soon after, but Nigeria scored two goals in the explosive closing stages and seemed headed to Egypt at 5-5, before a questionable penalty gifted the Mauritanians a crucial goal with only 60 seconds remaining.
Mauritania will now join hosts Egypt, Morocco, and Tanzania, along with the four other teams that will emerge from qualification matches this weekend, in the 8-Nation finals in December.
ADD A COMMENT :