By Simpson Global Media News Desk
KADUNA, Nigeria The officiating team for Nigeria’s 2026 CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Ghana has admitted an error after allowing the first-leg encounter to proceed to extra time and a penalty shootout despite the teams finishing regular time in a 3–3 draw.
The unusual sequence unfolded at the Murtala Muhammed Square Beach Soccer Pitch in Kaduna on Saturday, October 10, prompting the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to demand an explanation from the match officials.
Moroccan referee Driss Lamghaidar and his assistants subsequently acknowledged that they had made a mistake by continuing the match beyond regulation time and allowing a penalty shootout.
According to the NFF, the match was the first leg of a two-legged qualifying tie, with the decisive return fixture scheduled for Sunday, October 18, in Keta, Ghana. The first-leg match should therefore have concluded after regulation time, leaving the overall contest to be decided in the return leg.
The clarification means the Nigeria–Ghana tie remains unresolved, with both teams still competing for a place at the 2026 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal.
Nigeria’s Isa Hamza Manga scored a hat-trick during the match, while Ghana’s Mawuli Sosu scored twice and Wise Nyamadi added another goal for the Black Sharks.
The incident has placed the spotlight on match administration and the importance of applying competition regulations correctly, particularly in international fixtures where the result may determine qualification for a continental tournament.
Sources: Nigeria Football Federation | Complete Sports
What happened in Kaduna?
The first leg brought Nigeria’s Sand Eagles and Ghana’s Black Sharks together in Kaduna as part of the qualifying competition for the 2026 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations.
The encounter ended 3–3 after regulation time, according to the NFF’s account.
Instead of concluding the match at that point, the officiating team ordered extra time and subsequently a penalty shootout. Ghana then appeared to have won the contest on penalties, creating confusion among spectators and officials at the venue.
The decision raised an immediate question: why had a first-leg match in a two-legged qualifying tie been taken to a shootout before the return fixture had been played?
The NFF sought an explanation from the officials after the match. At a meeting on Saturday night, Lamghaidar and his assistants acknowledged that they had erred by allowing the additional periods and penalties.
The admission clarified the central issue. The first leg had ended level after regular time, and the qualifying contest was still due to be resolved through the second leg in Ghana.
The NFF’s account did not describe the incident as a new match result or a separate disciplinary decision. Instead, it reported the officials’ admission that the match should have ended 3–3.
That distinction is important because the initial sequence of extra time and penalties had created the impression that Ghana had secured a first-leg victory. The subsequent explanation established that the match officials should not have proceeded in that way.
The NFF said it had acted immediately after the match to seek clarification.
Source: NFF — Referees admit error, say Nigeria and Ghana match ended 3–3
Manga’s hat-trick gives Nigeria three goals
Nigeria’s Isa Hamza Manga was the standout scorer for the Sand Eagles, finding the net three times during the encounter.
His hat-trick accounted for all three of Nigeria’s goals in regulation time, according to the NFF report.
For Ghana, Mawuli Sosu scored twice, while Wise Nyamadi scored the other goal as the Black Sharks matched Nigeria’s three-goal total.
The scoreline reflected a closely contested encounter in which neither side established a lead that separated them by the end of regulation time.
Beach soccer differs from conventional association football in its playing surface, pace and scoring patterns. Matches are played on sand, and the format encourages rapid transitions, aerial control and attempts on goal from a variety of positions.
Those conditions can create opportunities for quick scoring changes, requiring teams to maintain concentration throughout each period.
For Nigeria, Manga’s three goals provided an important attacking contribution, but the team will need to approach the return leg as a separate contest rather than rely solely on the first-leg performance.
Ghana will also have an opportunity to adjust its approach before the sides meet again. With the first leg ending level, the second encounter will determine which team advances, subject to the competition’s applicable rules.
The NFF’s report did not provide a detailed breakdown of the goals by period or a complete account of the tactical changes made by either coach. The available information therefore supports the scoring summary but does not establish which side controlled particular phases of the match.
Source: NFF
Why the refereeing error matters
Match officials are responsible for applying the laws of the game and the regulations governing a particular competition. In a two-legged qualifying tie, they must also understand how the competition determines which team advances.
The Kaduna incident illustrates the consequences that can arise when match procedures are not applied correctly.
A penalty shootout normally provides a method of deciding a match or tie when the applicable rules require a winner and the contest remains level after the prescribed playing time. But the appropriate procedure depends on the competition format and the stage at which the match is being played.
In this case, the first leg was followed by a scheduled return fixture. According to the NFF’s account, that meant the teams should not have been taken to extra time and penalties at the end of the first match.
The officials’ admission addressed the immediate question about why the additional periods had been played.
The episode also highlights the importance of communication between referees, match commissioners, tournament organisers and participating federations before and during international competitions.
Competition regulations should be clearly understood by all relevant officials. Where a rule is uncertain, the appropriate procedures should be followed to obtain clarification rather than allowing a match to proceed under an incorrect interpretation.
The consequences of an officiating error can extend beyond the final whistle. Confusion about the status of a result may affect teams’ preparation, public understanding and confidence in the competition’s administration.
However, the available reports do not establish that the officials acted deliberately or that the error was intended to favour either country. Their admission confirms a mistake in the handling of the match, not evidence of deliberate misconduct.
Any further disciplinary assessment would depend on the relevant authorities and applicable regulations.
NFF seeks clarification after the match
The Nigeria Football Federation moved to obtain an explanation immediately after the first-leg encounter.
The federation’s response was followed by a meeting on Saturday night, during which Lamghaidar and his assistants acknowledged the error, according to the NFF’s published account.
The NFF report did not announce a suspension, formal disciplinary sanction or other punishment against the officials. It also did not state that CAF had imposed any additional measure in response to the incident.
It is therefore important not to confuse the officials’ admission with a separate disciplinary ruling.
The admission provided clarity on why the match had gone beyond regulation time. Questions about whether further action will follow, and whether competition organisers will review the procedures used, require official confirmation.
The incident also provides a reminder of the value of prompt communication when disputes arise in international sport. A timely explanation can help teams and supporters understand the status of a result and prepare for the next fixture on the basis of the applicable rules.
For Nigeria, the immediate sporting priority is the return leg in Ghana. The team must prepare for the next match knowing that the first encounter finished 3–3 in regulation time, rather than treating the penalty sequence as a settled first-leg defeat.
Source: NFF official statement
Return leg scheduled for October 18 in Ghana
Nigeria and Ghana are scheduled to meet again on Sunday, October 18, in Keta, Ghana.
The second leg will determine which team progresses in the qualifying competition for the 2026 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal.
The 3–3 first-leg score leaves the contest open. Both teams will need to produce a strong performance in the return encounter, and the eventual outcome will depend on what happens on the pitch and the applicable competition rules.
For the Sand Eagles, the trip to Ghana presents an opportunity to build on Manga’s attacking contribution and address any areas that require improvement.
The coaching staff will need to prepare for the conditions in Keta, assess the team’s fitness and ensure that the players understand the importance of managing the match carefully.
Ghana, meanwhile, will have home conditions for the return fixture and will be seeking to take advantage of the opportunity to qualify for the continental tournament.
The NFF’s published report identified October 18 as the date for the second leg. Any later changes to the venue, kickoff time or match arrangements should be confirmed through official announcements from the relevant football authorities.
The first-leg controversy should not obscure the sporting task ahead: Nigeria and Ghana must still settle the qualifying contest through the scheduled return fixture.
Beach soccer’s place in Nigerian sport
Beach soccer is one of the international football formats in which Nigeria has developed a national team, the Sand Eagles.
The sport shares some fundamentals with conventional football but is played on sand and features a distinctive style that places emphasis on technical control, acrobatic finishing, quick movement and rapid transitions.
Its tournaments can provide opportunities for players to represent the country internationally while expanding the range of sporting events available to Nigerian audiences.
The Sand Eagles’ participation in the continental qualifying competition also highlights the work required to sustain national teams beyond the country’s more widely followed football programmes.
Preparation involves technical training, fitness, travel, equipment, competition organisation and the coordination of players and officials. International fixtures additionally require teams to comply with the regulations and administrative arrangements established by the governing bodies.
For the sport to develop, consistent organisation and credible officiating are important. Teams and spectators need confidence that matches are being conducted under the same rules and that results are recorded accurately.
The Kaduna incident demonstrates how a procedural mistake can draw attention away from the athletes’ performance. Manga’s hat-trick and the evenly matched scoreline should have been the central sporting talking points, but the incorrect use of extra time and penalties became the immediate focus.
Resolving questions about match administration promptly helps preserve the integrity of the competition and allows attention to return to the players and the contest.
What Nigeria must focus on before the second leg
With the first leg established as a 3–3 draw after regulation time, the Sand Eagles now have a clear sporting task: prepare for the return encounter and compete for qualification.
The coaching team will need to evaluate the performance in Kaduna, including the effectiveness of the attack, defensive organisation and ability to respond to Ghana’s scoring threats.
Manga’s hat-trick offers evidence of Nigeria’s ability to create and convert scoring opportunities in the first leg. But a strong individual performance does not guarantee the same outcome in a different match, particularly when the opponent has time to review the first encounter.
Nigeria will also need to maintain discipline and focus, especially in a match carrying qualification consequences.
The team should prepare according to the official match arrangements and the rules governing the tie. The Kaduna incident makes clear why players and team officials must have reliable information about the competition format, while leaving the interpretation and enforcement of regulations to the appropriate authorities.
The NFF can support the team by maintaining communication with the competition organisers and ensuring that any questions about the match arrangements are resolved before kickoff.
For supporters, the most reliable way to follow the tie is to consult official NFF and CAF announcements for confirmed fixture information and the final outcome.
What happens next?
The immediate next step is the scheduled return match in Keta on October 18.
Before then, attention will remain on preparations by both national teams and any further official communication about the Kaduna officiating error.
The officials’ admission has clarified that the first leg ended 3–3 after regulation time and should not have proceeded to extra time and penalties. The available reports do not confirm any additional disciplinary sanction or a separate CAF decision.
The second leg remains the decisive fixture in the qualifying tie, with Nigeria and Ghana still seeking a place at the 2026 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal.
The result in Keta will determine the sporting outcome, while any further review of the officiating incident will depend on decisions by the relevant authorities.
For Nigeria’s Sand Eagles, preparation and performance will now be central. The team must focus on the return fixture, while the federation continues to follow up on the procedural issue raised in Kaduna.
Conclusion
The admission by Moroccan referee Driss Lamghaidar and his assistants has clarified an unusual episode in the Nigeria–Ghana beach soccer qualifier.
The first leg finished 3–3 in regulation time, but the match was incorrectly taken to extra time and a penalty shootout. The NFF sought an explanation, and the officials subsequently acknowledged the error.
Nigeria’s Isa Hamza Manga scored three goals, while Ghana’s Mawuli Sosu and Wise Nyamadi accounted for the Black Sharks’ goals.
With the return leg scheduled for October 18 in Keta, the qualifying contest remains open. Both teams now turn their attention to the next match, where a place at the 2026 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal is at stake.
The episode also reinforces a wider lesson for international sport: accurate interpretation of competition rules, clear communication and accountable officiating are essential to ensuring that matches are decided fairly and that players and supporters can trust the process.
Simpson Global Media will continue to follow the Sand Eagles’ preparations, the return fixture in Ghana and any official updates concerning the officiating incident.
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