Ghana and Nigeria split six goals in Kaduna, leaving the 2026 Beach Soccer AFCON ticket to be decided on the sands of Keta.
West Africa's fiercest rivalry has moved to the beach, and the first leg did not disappoint. Ghana's Black Sharks held Nigeria to a 3-3 draw at Murtala Mohammed Square in Kaduna on Saturday, keeping their bid for a place at the 2026 CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations firmly alive.
Nigeria's Isa Hamza Manga did his best to hand the hosts the upper hand, producing a hat-trick that had the home crowd on its feet. Every time he struck, though, the Black Sharks had an answer.
Mawuli Sosu bagged a brace for Ghana, and Wise Nyamadi added another to drag the visitors level. The scoreline means nothing is settled and everything is still to play for.
The decider arrives in Keta on Sunday, October 18, where Ghana will have home sand and home support behind them. The winner over the two legs books a trip to the continental finals in Senegal. After a six-goal opener, the second leg promises more of the same: fast, loud and impossible to call.
