Isiaka Olawale, the Captain of Sand Super Eagles, on Monday said that his side lost to Switzerland at the COPA Lagos Beach Soccer Tournament due to fatigue.
The Sand Eagles lost 3-8 to Switzerland at the Eko Atlantic, Victoria Island, Lagos on Sunday in their opening game of the tournament.
Olawale said: “We left our Badagry camp hotel for Eko Hotel about four hours to the match after our training.
“We were tired.
“We ought to have left the Badagry camp on Friday, but we were unable to leave until Sunday, the day of the match.
“This is not a confirmation that we are not ready for the CAF Beach Soccer tournament.
“For us, that is the main competition we will focus on that now.”
Olawale also told the News Agency of Nigeria that his teammates were in top form.
He said: “For any team to judge us based on our defeat on Sunday, it will be a shock to whoever underrates us.”
Also, the team’s goalkeeper, Golden Tase, told NAN that the entire squad was psychologically ready.
Tase said: “Sunday’s match was just a temporary setback; we will come back better and stronger.
“Our match against Egypt will be worth the time of our fans, our focus is to qualify for World Cup.”
NAN reports that the CAF Beach Soccer tournament is scheduled to kick off on December 13 and end on December 18 at the Eko Atlantic, Victoria Island, Lagos.
NAN also reports that the 9th edition of the FIFA Beach Soccer tournament will hold in Bahamas from April 27 to May 7, 2017.
The Sand Super Eagles have won CAF beach soccer tournament twice in 2003 and 2007.
—