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“If You Want to Be Ready for Ghana, Test Yourself Against Africa’s Best” — Hadejia Backs Senegal Gamble Despite Sand Eagles Defeat
President of the African Beach Soccer Union, Mahmud Hadejia, believes Nigeria’s decision to test the Sand Eagles against African champions Senegal was exactly the preparation required ahead of their crucial Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Ghana.
Nigeria suffered a 6-4 defeat in the opening friendly at the Murtala Muhammed Square Beach Soccer Arena in Kaduna, but Hadejia insists the result was secondary to exposing the team to the intensity they should expect when the competitive battle with Ghana begins.
The Sand Eagles are rebuilding after spending two years without competitive international action, making the Senegal double-header an important opportunity to assess their readiness against the continent’s benchmark team.
According to Hadejia, Senegal were deliberately chosen because their quality, physical approach and beach soccer pedigree provide Nigeria with the kind of examination needed before facing Ghana’s Black Sharks.
Senegal are the defending African champions and have established themselves as the dominant force in African beach soccer, making the friendlies a demanding test rather than an exercise designed simply to produce comfortable victories.
Sand Eagles head coach Abdullahi Isa shared that assessment, describing Senegal as quality opposition capable of helping his players shake off match rust before the qualifiers.
Nigeria will host Ghana in the first leg in Kaduna on October 10, before travelling to Accra for the decisive return fixture. The winner over the two legs will qualify for the 2026 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal.
The assignment carries added importance after Nigeria narrowly missed the previous continental championship, losing to Mauritania on the away-goals rule during qualification in 2024.
For Hadejia, therefore, playing Senegal was about discovering weaknesses before Ghana gets the opportunity to exploit them.
The 6-4 scoreline may have gone Senegal’s way, but the real value of the friendly will be measured against Ghana — when lessons learned against Africa’s champions must translate into an AFCON ticket.
The member representing Bichi Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Abubakar Kabir Abubakar, has urged residents of Bichi Federal Constituency in Kano State to vote for President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 general election, warning that ongoing development projects could be abandoned if the president is not re-elected.
Bichi said many of the projects being executed in Bichi and other parts of Kano were made possible through the support and approval of the federal government.
He spoke on Monday during the inauguration of the Bichi chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Campaign Council ahead of the 2027 general election.
“If you vote for me and do not vote for President Tinubu, there is a problem. Most of these development projects are coming to Bichi and Kano through his consent; there's no other magic,” he said.
The lawmaker said a member of the National Assembly could not execute major development projects without the support and approval of the executive arm of government.
“No matter how a representative wants to work, without the approval of the executive, he cannot do it. If you don't vote for Tinubu, all these ongoing projects will be abandoned,” he added.
Bichi said the development recorded in the constituency over the last seven and a half years would have been difficult for many people to imagine in 2019.
According to him, the projects were part of efforts to change the attitude of residents towards elections and encourage them to participate in the democratic process.
He said some people previously refused to vote because they believed their votes did not count and did not see the impact of elected officials' work.
Bichi urged residents to support the APC in 2027, calling on Bichi residents and Kano North, which has 1.3 million registered voters, to deliver not less than 1 million votes for the party.
He also expressed support for Tinubu, saying the president had demonstrated commitment to the North through development projects.
“Tinubu loves the North. If he did not, he would not be doing all these things,” he said.
Bichi also referred to former President Muhammadu Buhari's emergence as president in 2015, saying Tinubu played an important role in the process.
On insecurity, the lawmaker acknowledged that residents remained concerned about the situation but said there had been a gradual improvement.
He cited the Kaduna-Abuja road as an example, claiming that insecurity along the route had reduced.
Also, speaking, Kano State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, called on members of the APC in Bichi to promote peaceful campaigns, inclusive governance and grassroots participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Yusuf, represented by his Deputy, Murtala Sule Garo, said Nigeria was recovering from its challenges, noting that the process of healing could come with pain.
“The country has been seriously injured and is in the process of recovery. For a wound to heal, it has to pass through pain,” he said.
Ongoing projects may be abandoned if you dont vote Tinubu – Kano Rep, Bichi
There was a mild drama live on air as Arise TV presenter, Rufai Oseni and the All Progressives Congress, APC, National Publicity Secretary, Felix Morka clashed over the remarks of President Bola Tinubu in Kaduna and Nigeria’s economic conditions.
The heated argument started when Oseni questioned Morka about the current state of Nigeria’s economy under the administration of President Tinubu.
Responding, Morka defended President Tinubu’s remarks at a campaign rally in Kaduna, insisting that there was nothing wrong with what the President said.
According to Morka, all President Tinubu needed to do in Kaduna was show up and tell people to support him again.
Morka further stated that the Kaduna rally was not a policy summit or dialogue where President Tinubu was expected to deliver a policy speech to appease what he described as "opposition tribesmen dressed as journalists."
But Oseni insisted that Morka was dodging the real question about the hardship Nigerians are facing.
During the heated exchange, Rufai told Morka that he had yet to answer his question about the current state of Nigeria’s economy, adding that he should respond whenever he was ready to answer.
"You are yet to answer my question about the current state of Nigeria's economy. Respond whenever you are ready to answer," Rufai told Morka.
Arise TV anchor, Rufai Oseni, APC Felix Morka clash over Tinubu
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