Dalung applauds Beach Soccer AFCON Committee

The Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, on Thursday hailed the plan of the local organizing committee of the CAF Beach Soccer Cup of Nations, Nigeria 2016, to make the tournament a world-class event.
Dalung, who spoke after the committee made a presentation to him in his office in Abuja, said the commitment, capacity and passion of the committee members to deliver a wonderful tournament was not in doubt.
He said: “That is why it is always advisable to select the right people into any committee.
“I commend you for coming here before starting the marketing of the event.
“Beach soccer is big business.
“We urge you to mobilize Nigerians effectively to embrace beach soccer.”
The Chairman of the committee, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, who is also NFF 1st Vice President, said the committee has concluded plans to use the tournament as a platform to showcase Nigeria sports and expand beach soccer nationally.
Akinwunmi said: “Beach soccer is the fastest-growing sport in the 21st Century.
“We want to have a world-class event that will do Nigeria proud.
“As soon as we leave here, we will hit the ground running with regards to our marketing plan.”
The CAF Beach Soccer Cup of Nations Nigeria 2016 will serve as the qualifier for the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup and will hold at the Eko Atlantic Beach, Lagos from December 13 to 18, 2016.
It will be a tournament of eight teams in two groups of four teams each, with the two finalists qualifying for the Beach Soccer World Cup taking place in The Bahamas.