The officiating team in the 2026 CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match between Nigeria and Ghana has admitted an error after incorrectly ordering extra time and a penalty shootout following Saturday’s 3-3 draw in Kaduna.
Moroccan referee Driss Lamghaidar and his assistants acknowledged their mistake during a meeting on Saturday night, admitting that the first-leg encounter should have ended after regulation time, with the decisive second leg scheduled for Sunday, October 18, in Keta, Ghana.
The decision to proceed to extra time and penalties had left dignitaries and spectators at the Murtala Muhammed Square Beach Soccer Pitch in Kaduna confused, as the match was only the first leg of the two-legged qualifying fixture.
The clarification means the tie remains finely balanced at 3-3, with both Nigeria and Ghana set to battle for qualification in the return leg.
Nigeria and Ghana Settle for 3-3 Draw
Nigeria’s Isa Hamza Manga delivered an impressive performance, scoring a hat-trick to keep the hosts in contention against Ghana’s Black Sharks.
Ghana responded through Mawuli Sosu, who scored twice, while Wise Nyamadi added another goal to ensure the visitors finished regulation time level with the Nigerian side.
The result leaves both teams with everything to play for ahead of the return fixture in Keta, where the winner of the two-legged contest will advance in the race for the 2026 Beach Soccer AFCON in Senegal.
NFF Demands Explanation Over Extra Time and Penalties
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) immediately sought clarification from the match officials over the decision to take the game into extra time and subsequently a penalty shootout.
The federation questioned the procedure because the encounter was the first leg of a two-match fixture, meaning the aggregate outcome could only be determined after the return match.
The officiating team subsequently admitted the error, confirming that the match should have concluded after the regulation-time score of 3-3.
Top Officials Witness Kaduna Encounter
Several senior officials from the National Sports Commission (NSC), the Nigeria Football Federation and the Kaduna State Government were present at the venue for the match.
Those in attendance included NSC Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko; NFF Acting General Secretary Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme; Kaduna State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Hon. Ben Kure; and Special Assistants to the NSC Chairman, Barrister Musa Amadu and Clement Nwankpa.
Also present were NFF Acting Deputy General Secretary Dr Ademola Olajire and the NSC Chairman’s Personal Assistant, Alhaji Ahmad Muazu.
With the officiating error acknowledged, attention now shifts to the return leg in Keta on October 18, where Nigeria and Ghana will renew their rivalry with a place in the 2026 CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations at stake.
