Ghana’s Black Sharks battled to an entertaining 3-3 draw against Nigeria in the first leg of their 2026 CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the Murtala Mohammed square in Kaduna on Saturday, leaving the tie finely poised ahead of next week’s decisive return fixture.

In a fiercely contested encounter, Nigeria’s Isa Hamza Manga proved a major threat, scoring all three goals for the hosts to complete a hat-trick.

Ghana, however, showed resilience and attacking quality, with Mawuli Sosu finding the net twice before Wise Nyamadi added the third goal to secure a valuable draw.

The result leaves both nations with everything to play for as the qualification battle heads to Keta, where the Black Sharks will host Nigeria on Sunday, October 18.

With the aggregate score level after the opening encounter, Ghana will look to make home advantage count and deliver a decisive performance to secure their place at the 2026 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal.

The return leg promises another intense contest, with the Black Sharks determined to finish the job on home sand and keep their continental ambitions alive.

GFA Communications