Nigeria and Senegal make it to Ravenna!

Green Eagles and Lions of Teranga earn their place in FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2011 Ravenna/Italy

Last pride hit by Côte d’Ivoire to close an awful Qualifier

This edition of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup – Africa Qualifier was one to forget for Côte d’Ivoire. Current continental runner ups not only failed to qualify for the semifinals, but were left at the bottom of the table in Group C. Used to fight for higher goals, the Elephants were thrown today into a fight for the 7^th place in this African Qualifier for the World Cup, in which Libya could even turn things darker for them.  Notwithstanding, a last pride stroke allowed the Ivoirians to fly back home, at least, with one victory to note on their sheet.

It was not easy, though, since Libya kept equalizing any advantage achieved by Côte d’Ivoire. Every time the Ivoirians stepped ahead, the northern African side found a chance from the 9 meter spot to balance things back. That led to a 3-3 by Al Edressi at the beginning of the third quarter that set clear that Libya were not afraid to fight their opponents, no matter their entity in the continent. Indeed, they managed a fourth equalizer after goalkeeper Enam’s free kick missile, with Mansur replying for the 4-4 only seconds afterwards.

But that was the last push for the Libyan, since they were unable to equalize the score for a fifth time after Daouda’s third hit. Seeing the little stamina in their opponent’s tanks, Côte d’Ivoire finished the game with the 6-4 to, at least, secure one victory in Casblanca. It was not their year, but they will come back stronger next edition.

Goals: 0-1: Koutouan, min. 4 (1); 1-1: Al Edressi, min. 10 (2); 1-2: Daouda, min. 4 (2); 2-2: Attia, min. 3 (2); 2-3: Daouda, min. 1 (2); 3-3: Al Edressi, min. 10 (3); 3-4: Enam, min. 9 (3); 4-4: Mansur, min. 9 (3); 4-5: Daouda, min. 6 (3) ; 4-6: Djimi, min. 2 (3)

The Green Eagles fly to Ravenna!!

Nigeria will not miss their fourth FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup after edging surprising Madagascar in the first semifinals of the African Qualifiers held in Casablanca, Morocco. It was, though, an absolutely hard-suffering victory for current African champions, since the Indic side turned their amazing spirit into an almost invincible tactic. Only a one goal difference, achieved close to the end of the game, opened the door to the World Cup for Nigeria, who, indeed, had things really difficult in several stages of the match.

Madagascar would not last long to prove they were absolutely determined to upset the Green Eagles until the very last breath, and Flavien swept them ahead with another brilliant goal. Nigeria turned things around, with the first two hits by Ibenegbu , but  Bernardin and Fabrice restored the advantage for the red side.

After Okemmiri equalized again, things got really uphill for the green Eagles. Tiana replied not only once, but twice to leave the score 3-5 at the beginning of the third period, when things get more decisive than ever. Fortunately for the Nigerians,two aerial plays solved the first problem for current title holders. Ibenegbu and Najere’s head balanced the score rather soon. But their worst nightmare today, Tiana, bit again for the 5-6. Madagascar had already gone far beyond being an annoying team to become a real menace to Nigeria’s hegemony. But, as any big team, the Nigerian have many resources to lean on, and Ibenegbu, with his fourth goal today, suffocated this last fire.

Time was running out, and anything could happen. Although making their debut in the Continental sphere, Madagascar had already proved that they could do real harm to anyone, and they were decided to leave current champions out of the World Cup. Nigeria, in turn, could not afford being kicked out of their biggest Beach Soccer festival at their hands, and worked hard those last minutes to field their hierarchy. Experience is more than a help in these situations, and the Central-Africans handled these tense minutes perfectly. Taking advantage of one of the few goal chances yet to happen, Olawale managed the winner for his team, since Madagascar found impossible from that moment on to reply and saw their dream vanish. The green Eagles will fly again to the World Cup.

Goals: 0-1: Flavien, min. 10 (1); 1-1 : Ibenegbu, min. 8 (1); 2-1 : Ibenegbu, min. 10 (2) ; 2-2 : Bernardin, min. 7 (2) ; 2-3 : Fabrice, min. 4 (2) ; 3-3 : Okemmiri, min. 4 (2) ; 3-4 : Tiana, min. 1 (2) ; 3-5: Tiana,  min. 11 (3) ; 4-5 : Ibenegbu, min. 10 (3); 5-5: Najere, min. 10 (3); 5-6: Tiana, min. 10 (3); 6-6: Ibenegbu, min. 7 (3); 7-6: Olawale, min. 4 (3)

Senegal bend Egypt to secure berth in the World Cup

The roar by the Lions of Teranga will be loudly heard in Ravenna, as the Senegalese National Team made their way to the final of this FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2011 Africa Qualifier Casablanca. Senegal bended Egypt in today’s semifinal, what secures their berth in the sport’s big party, to take place by the Adriatic Sea in September.

The prize at stake was really important, and none of the teams willed to do anything that would get them further to it. Neither Senegal nor Egypt wanted to take any risk during the match first stages, what left few goal chances at any of both ends.

With second period heading to the horn, Ndour decided that was enough for the 0-0, and thundered a ball right to the Egytptian goalmouth.  After unveiling the Beach Soccer quintessence, the Senegalese number 10 had another trick to pull out from his hat, and magically chipped a ball over Fawzy for the 2-0 that changed things drastically in just seconds.  Egypt, who had played really solidly all the tournament did not want things to escape too much of their control, and pored a little of red paint onto the Senegalese dominion, with A. Serie achieving the 2-1 before the second break.

Although seeing their advantage cut a little bit, Senegal remained confident to their Beach Soccer and that always got them a deserved reward. Fall restored the two-goal advantage for the first time at the 4^th minute of the last period, and he himself would do it again after Aly shortened the gap for the 3-2. The Lions of Teranga offered again a really powerful and authoritarian display, and Egypt was never again able to counteract this dominion. With the final whistle, the Senegalese embraced their third involvement into a FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.

Goals: 1-0: Ndour, min. 3 (2); 2-0: Ndour, min. 2 (2); 2-1: A. Serie, min. 1 (2) ; 3-1 : Fall, min. 8 (3) ; 3-2 : Aly, min. 5 (3) ; 4-2 : Fall, min. 5 (3)

Matches today

Saturday, June 18^th

15:45 – Libya 4 – 6 Côte d’Ivoire (7^th/8^th place)

17:00 – Nigeria 7 – 6 Madagascar (Semifinal 1)

18:15 – Senegal 4 – 2 Egypt (Semifinal 2)

Matches tomorrow

Sunday, June 19^th

15:45 – Madagascar  –  Egypt (3^rd /4^th place)

17:00 – Morocco – Algeria (5^th/6^th place)

18:15 – Nigeria – Senegal (Final)