Ghana’s Beach Soccer team, the Black Sharks, have booked their place at the 2024 Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt after a commanding 5-2 victory over Côte d’Ivoire in the second leg of the playoff, sealing a 10-5 aggregate triumph.
The decisive clash at the Stade de Agora in Abidjan began with the Ivorians riding the energy of their home crowd to score twice in the opening period. But Ghana responded brilliantly in the second period when substitute goalkeeper Robert Nyadedzor stunned the hosts with a goal, quickly followed by an equalizer from Wise Nyamadi.
Captain Richard Martei Osai then gave Ghana the lead with a clever strike, turning the momentum firmly in favor of the Black Sharks. In the final period, Precious Torgbor and Jude Asante Aklie added two more goals to complete the rout and confirm Ghana’s spot in Egypt.
Head coach Daniel Neequaye Kotey hailed his side’s performance:
“I’m incredibly proud of the team. We came with a strategy, and the players executed it perfectly. Qualifying for AFCON is a huge milestone, and we’re ready to represent Ghana with pride.”
This qualification marks a significant achievement for Ghana Beach Soccer, a sport steadily growing in popularity across the nation. With their offensive firepower and defensive resilience, the Black Sharks are now looking ahead to Egypt 2024, where they aim to make a strong impression on the continental stage.
