How the Super Sand Eagles Lost Heavily to Italy

[Italy 12-6 Nigeria]

Observations : How Super Sand Eagles got it wrong.

Stamina : The team lack stamina to play a high tempo game with the Italians as we all know that Beach Soccer is End to End attack like Basketball. The Players became tired in the second period and struggled to cope with the high pacy attack of the Europeans.

Age Factor : Players like Ibenegbu,Olawale and Okemiri can only bring experience but not performance because they no longer have lungs in a squad of ten players and two Goalkeepers. Quality of the team depth will be tested in the knockout out stages.

Concentration : The team lost concentration in the ways of over celebrating some goals only to concede five seconds later. It happened repeatedly during the second and third periods especially when the lead were reduced to one.

Techniques and Tactics : The Italians team displayed top Beach soccer craft,The Players were never tired of hitting beautiful volley and almost half of their goals were bicycle kicks. Their positioning simply outdone the Super Sand as one continue to wonder how they are managing to run so fast on the sea sand.

Fighting Spirit : The team gave a good account of themselves and the scoreline didn't do justice to how tight and tough the contest was until the third period.

Gabrielle Gori : What a masterclass performance by the striker, he was simply awesome to watch as he scored half the goals for his team and one will wonder how his absence could have help the Nigerians.167 international goals in beach soccer is massive and Only Abu Azeez can probably replicate him on his good day. Gori was tightly marked in the first period but made his influence count in the second and third periods in spectacular fashion.

Positive going forward : Nigeria is the third highest scoring team in the competition even in defeat. Only Italy(12) and Senegal(9) have more goals than the West Africans.

Photo Credit : FIFA.com