The aim is to develop the sport in the region, under the patronage of CAF and BSWW
Nigeria, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Ghana leads the formation of a West Africa Beach Soccer Union.
Stakeholders and leading beach soccer enthusiasts of these countries met officials of Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Friday at Eko Hotels & Suites in Lagos, Nigeria, to table their plans for the development of the sport in the West African sub region.
In attendance was Joan Cusco; FIFA Beach Soccer Executive Board Member & CEO of BSWW as well as Alex Soriano who is Head of Sponsorship at BSWW.
The various heads and representatives of Beach Soccer from West Africa represented included Ibrahima Ndiaye Chitah (Senegal), Abdullahi Isa (Nigeria), Mbahia Yves (Ivory Coast), Olajide Taye (CEO of BS Mag) and Ghana beach soccer President — Yaw Ampofo Ankrah
Yaw Ampofo Ankrah said in a conversation with TheAfricanDream.net that he is “very excited about this regional effort to promote the young sport of beach soccer in West Africa. Today will have historic impacts both on the future of the African and global game, which is why am calling on football associations, especially in West Africa, to not ignore beach soccer but help in developing it as its future benefits are enormous”
Also in attendance was Sunday Okayi (Nigeria) a FIFA Beach Soccer Instructor.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 2016 Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations which is the main international championship for beach soccer in Africa – this year’s event is hosted by Nigeria who are two-time Africa Beach Soccer Champions.
