The Lagos State Sports ministry says it is ready to host this year’s African Beach Soccer Cup of Nations billed to hold in December.
The State Sports Commission’s chairman, Deji Tinubu, made this known at the logo unveiling press conference in Lagos, stating that the state is working with the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF and the Local Organising Committee to stage a successful championship from December 13-18.
According to him, “We want people to see and to say positive things about our country.
“We see no reason why Nigeria cannot host the Beach Soccer World Cup. The capacity of Nigeria is huge, and what Samson Adamu has been doing with the COPA Lagos is tremendous. There will be something massive in December.”
On his part, the NFF vice president, Seyi Akinwunmi commended the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode and Federal Ministry of Sports for their support and promised a world-class beach soccer event.
Akinwunmi said, “We are committed to hosting the best –ever CAF Beach Soccer Championship.
“Our tenure is on putting up a world-class event, and we believe that with the support we have received and still receiving from the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports, the NFF, the Lagos state government, we will deliver.
“We are very grateful to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for his decision to support the event. Nigeria 2016 will be a show –stopper.
“The annual COPA Lagos Invitational Tournament, which has been on for the past five years, has shown us how interesting and how much fun beach soccer can be.”
The Beach Eagles are in Group A of the competition alongside Egypt, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire, while defending champions Madagascar will battle Libya, Morocco and Senegal in Group B.
The tournament also serves as Africa’s qualifying event for the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup to be held in the Bahamas.
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