With just over two weeks before the 2024 Beach Soccer Cup of Nations in Egypt kicks off, Ghana’s national beach soccer team, the Black Sharks, have yet to begin their training camp. The team was supposed to start residential camping in Keta on Sunday, September 29, but just as players and officials were preparing to head to the base, they were informed that funds for the camp were not ready.
Both the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ghana Football Association have remained silent on why the funds have not been released, raising concerns about the team’s preparation for the tournament.
This delay could significantly impact the Black Sharks’ chances, as they face a tough group in the tournament, competing against East African champions Tanzania, Africa Beach Games gold medalists Morocco, and the host nation, Egypt.
The tournament begins on Saturday, October 19, in the Red Sea resort town of Hurghada, 300 kilometers from Cairo. This edition of the Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) is expected to be one of the most competitive, featuring top-performing nations in beach soccer over the last few years.
Ghana’s return to the tournament, after almost a decade away, has not been without challenges. The Black Sharks secured their qualification by defeating Ivory Coast’s Sand Elephants 10-5 on aggregate, despite having to travel 18 hours by road from Keta to Abidjan.
The team qualified for the Afcon tournament over two months ago, making the delay in releasing funds particularly puzzling. The 2024 Afcon also serves as a qualifier for the 2025 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in the Seychelles, with only two African slots available, adding pressure on the Black Sharks to be well-prepared for the grueling competition.
