Sports minister Solomon Dalung is expected to watch Nigeria’s 2017 Beach Soccer World Cup opening game against Italy at the National Beach Soccer Arena in Nassau, Bahamas, on Thursday.

The Super Sand Eagles are in Group B of the tournament alongside Italy, Iran and Mexico. Iran takes on Mexico in opening match of the competition.

Nigeria coach Audu  Adamu  will rely on captain IsiakaOlawale, OgbonnayaOkemiri, Abu Azeez, Godwin Tale, Emmanuel Owhoferia and EmekaOgbonna to advance to the next stage. Meanwhile Chairman Technical committee Nigeria Football Federation Chris Green had admitted that the federation is not expecting so much from the team owing to poor preparation

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s delegation, who inspected facilities for the 2017 Commonwealth Youth Games in the Caribbean country   in July, has concluded their assignment.

According to the NnekaAnibeze, Special Media Adviser to the Minister,  Dalung, the ministry’s  Director of  Grassroots Sports Ademola Aare and  the Secretary-General of the Nigeria Olympic Committee Tunde Popoola inspected the training areas, tracks,  accommodation, indoor sports hall and swimming pools  at the venues for the competition in Nassau.

Nigeria will be represented by 26 athletes taking part in swimming, athletics, beach volleyball, cycling, boxing, tennis and judo.

Report by Miyen Akiri