Nigeria’s beach soccer national team, Super Sand Eagles’ coach, Audu Adamu (aka Ejo) has turned his attention on the global level, after leading his side to back-to-back runners-up spot at Copa Lagos, megasportsarena.com reports.
In the wake of his side’s second straight end behind Senegal in the prestigious competition at Eko Atlantic, ‘Ejo’ declared that it was a good learning point for his lads heading into the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup later this month.
He insisted that he was satisfied with Nigeria’s second place finish at the just concluded Copa Lagos where the team posted two wins against England and Brazil but a defeat to eventual Cup winner Senegal on match day 2 had taken Nigeria out of the driver’s seat going to the final day.
Last weekend’s runners-up spot also saw Nigeria climb one spot to 21st in the world rankings and keep fourth position, after dropping to 22nd spot in the world and two places in the continent’s scales for the month of September.
The Sand Eagles recorded wins against England and Brazil but lost to African champions, Senegal at the competition in Lagos, which serves as preparation for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Paraguay, where Nigeria will make a sixth appearance, with impending matches against Brazil, Oman and Portugal in Group D, ahead of which Ejo admits they have to prepare very well.
He added that the matches were very good for his team, as they were able to test their mettle in a competitive level and he saw what else needs to be worked on before the World Cup, ahead of which he says they will line out for some friendlies before heading out to Paraguay.
Ejo declared: “The Copa Lagos accorded us a good preparation for the Beach Football World Cup in Paraguay. We tried our best, we wanted to win this competition. We won two matches, but lost one to Senegal, who eventually won the cup, and we placed second.
“We at least try not to disgrace ourselves. It means we still have more work to do. We are going to prepare and have like three friendly matches and by the time we play these three friendly matches, I think the team will turn up fully.
“With this Copa Lagos, we are ready because this is where you play, and you do some correction. Though we lost to Senegal but when we watch Brazil play we managed them and we won them.”
