CAF Referees Admit Error After Controversial Nigeria-Ghana Beach Soccer Qualifier

Posted : 12 October 2026

The race between Nigeria and Ghana for a place at the 2026 CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations remains unresolved after match officials admitted a major error during the first leg in Kaduna on Saturday, October 10.

The encounter at the Murtala Muhammed Square Beach Soccer Pitch ended 3-3 after regulation time. However, Moroccan referee Driss Lamghaidar and his assistants incorrectly ordered extra time and a penalty shootout, despite the fixture being the first match of a two-legged qualifying tie. Ghana initially won the shootout 5-4 before the officials acknowledged their mistake.

At a meeting later that evening, Lamghaidar admitted the error. The officials subsequently recognised the 3-3 score as the valid result, leaving both countries level ahead of the decisive return leg in Ghana.

Nigeria's Isa Hamza Manga delivered an outstanding performance, scoring all three goals for the Super Sand Eagles to complete a hat-trick. Ghana's Black Sharks responded through Mawuli Sosu, who scored twice, while Wise Nyamadi added the visitors' third goal.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) immediately sought an explanation from the match officials over the decision to continue beyond regulation time. The incident also confused spectators and senior football administrators who attended the match in Kaduna.

The controversy has raised fresh questions about officiating standards in African football. It also recalls an earlier incident involving Edo Queens of Nigeria and Ampem Darkoa Ladies of Ghana during the WAFU B CAF Women's Champions League qualifying final in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, on September 5.

That match ended 2-2 after regulation time, but the referees proceeded directly to penalties instead of ordering the required extra time. Edo Queens won the shootout 4-1, but the Ghana Football Association protested to the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

CAF upheld the protest, prompting Edo Queens to challenge the decision and argue that the club should not be punished for an error made by the officials. The latest incident involving Nigeria and Ghana's beach soccer teams has renewed concerns about the consistency of refereeing decisions in continental competitions.

Nigeria and Ghana will now meet again on Sunday, October 18, at the Keta Emancipation Beach Soccer Arena in Ghana. The second leg will determine which country advances to the 2026 Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal.

With the first leg officially level at 3-3, both teams remain in contention for qualification. Ghana will have home support behind the Black Sharks, while Nigeria will look to Manga and the rest of the Super Sand Eagles to deliver a decisive performance away from home.

CAF Referees Admit Error After Controversial Nigeria-Ghana Beach Soccer Qualifier

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