The national beach Soccer team, the Black Sharks hope to qualify to the 2025 World Cup have been shattered after they were shown early exit in the ongoing Beach Soccer African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Egypt after three rounds of group matches.
The Black Sharks despite defeating Tanzania counterparts in the last group A match by 10 goals to three to grab the first three point of the competition, it was inadequate to enable the team progress to the next stage of the competition.
Mr. Yaw Ampofo Ankrah, Chairman of the Ghana Football Association Beach Soccer Committee, in an interview with the GNA Sports disclosed that inadequate preparations have hampered the team chances to qualify to the semifinals.
“We lost to a well-prepared and experienced sides, which were Egypt and Morocco. The one-week training ahead of the tournament was not enough to give the boys the maximum and adequate preparation,” he stated.
Mr. Ankrah further expressed frustration about how the team lost the first two group matches to the host nation, Sand Pharaohs of Egypt 6-3, and 5-2 to Morocco, respectively, that crippled the boys from moving to the next stage of the continental competition.
“Other teams were ahead of us in all areas, and am happy that Mr. Kingsley Osei-Bonsu, Executive Council Member of GFA and others are here to witness the games and l hope they would communicate with others for more support to the team.”
Mr. Daniel Neequaye Kotey, the Coach of the team, said that the main goal of qualifying to FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Seychelles in 2025 has been dashed after two defeats and a win in the group matches.
He urged all Ghanaian to rally behind the team to prepare well to combat with others in the subsequent continental tournament to win the trophy.
Meanwhile, Egypt and Morocco progressed to the semifinals of the competition with nine and six points to occupy the first and second spots, respectively, while Ghana with three points and Tanzania with zero, were third and fourth.
The Black Sharks would have another opportunity to prove their powers on Thursday, October 24, as they would lock horns with Mozambique for fifth place play-offs of the competition per the rules and the regulations governing the tournament.
The seven times and defending champions Senegal would be hoping to repeat the last edition’s finals defeat against Egypt after the two were to clash in the semifinals match of the ongoing beach soccer AFCON.
Ghana’s group opponent Morocco in other hand would also face Mauritania in the second fearsome semifinals encounter with the winners progressing to the finals of the tournament.
The two finalists would also have the opportunity to represent Africa in the 2025 FIFA World Cup that would be staged in Seychelles.