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Ghana’s national beach soccer team, the Black Sharks, played out an intense 3-3 draw against Nigeria’s Super Sand Eagles in the first leg of their 2026 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier. The match, held on October 10 in Kaduna, Nigeria, leaves both teams with everything to play for in the return fixture. However, the contest was marked by a significant officiating error that led to unnecessary post-regulation play.
During the match, Nigeria’s Isa Hamza Manga delivered a standout performance, scoring a hat-trick for the home side. Ghana’s Black Sharks remained resilient throughout the contest, with goals from Mawuli Sosu and Wise Nyamadi helping to secure the 3-3 result. The scoreline reflects a hard-fought battle between the two West African rivals, with Ghana successfully holding their ground in a difficult away environment to keep their qualification hopes alive.
The fixture ended in a state of confusion when match officials mistakenly ordered extra time and a penalty shootout after the score was tied at the end of regulation time. Under the competition rules for a two-legged qualifier, the first leg should have concluded as a draw without further play. Match officials subsequently admitted the procedural oversight, confirming that the 3-3 regulation score stands as the official result for the first leg, nullifying any outcomes from the extra sessions.
The focus now shifts to the decisive second leg, which is scheduled for October 18 at the Keta Emancipation Beach Soccer Arena in the Volta Region of Ghana. With the aggregate score currently level, the Black Sharks will look to leverage their home advantage to secure qualification for the 2026 AFCON tournament in Senegal. A victory in the return leg will guarantee a spot in the continental championship for the winning side.