The refereeing team for the 2026 CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Nigeria and Ghana has admitted making a mistake by allowing Saturday’s first-leg match to go into extra time and penalties.
The match, played at the Murtala Muhammed Square Beach Soccer Pitch in Kaduna, ended 3-3 after normal time. However, Moroccan referee Driss Lamghaidar and his assistants wrongly allowed the game to continue into extra time before a penalty shootout.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said Lamghaidar admitted the error during a meeting on Saturday night, explaining that the match should have ended after regulation time because it was only the first leg of a two-legged tie.
The second leg is scheduled for Sunday, October 18, in Keta, Ghana, where both teams will battle for a place at the 2026 CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal.
The admission leaves the contest level at 3-3, with qualification still to be decided in the return fixture.
Nigeria’s Isa Hamza Manga scored a hat-trick, while Mawuli Sosu netted twice for Ghana’s Black Sharks. Wise Nyamadi scored Ghana’s third goal.
The NFF had immediately demanded an explanation for the decision to play extra time and penalties, as the two teams were expected to settle the tie over two matches.
Saturday’s encounter attracted several top officials, including Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko; NFF Acting General Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme; and Kaduna State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Hon. Ben Kure.
Also present were Barrister Musa Amadu and Clement Nwankpa, Special Assistants to the NSC Chairman; NFF Acting Deputy General Secretary, Dr Ademola Olajire; and Alhaji Ahmad Muazu, Personal Assistant to the NSC Chairman.
Nigeria and Ghana will meet again in Keta on October 18, with both sides seeking victory to advance in the qualification race.
