Spain pip Nigeria 6-5, win Copa Lagos
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The Super Sand Eagles on Sunday lost 6-5 to Spain in an intense final of the 2017 Copa Lagos Beach Soccer tournament at the Eko Atlantic City, Lagos.
The Nigerians on Friday defeated Morocco 7-6 and on Saturday beat Lebanon 9-8 in explosive encounters to set up a clash with the Spanish, who defeated Lebanon 7-3 and Morocco 8-5 respectively.
Morocco defeated Lebanon 2-0 in the third-place match.
Spain went ahead 2-0 in the first period but Emeka Ogbonna and Victor Tale restored parity for the Nigerians.
The Sand Eagles were in front for the first when a scorcher from Abu Azeez beat Spain’s Christian in goal.
Christian then made it 5-4 for the visitors, after Eduard had levelled score 4-4. Eduard grabbed his hat-trick with two minutes left to break Nigerian hearts. A late consolation goal from Azeez was too little too late as the Europeans won 6-5.
Earlier, newcomers Kebbi defeated Pepsi Academy 8-3 in an entertaining match to emerge winners of the club category.
Before the final day, all the four clubs had won one and lost one game each.
Kebbi, who were narrowly defeated in their opening game against Arsenal, hammered Gidi Sharks 9-4.
But Pepsi Academy recorded the biggest result of this year’s event, when they stunned Arsenal beach soccer team 3-2 on Saturday.
A select team of stars in the entertainment industry defeated ex-internationals 2-0 on penalties after full-time ended 2-2, in a ceremonial game.
Ex-Schalke 04 striker Victor Agali and Friday Ekpo had put the ex-footballers ahead but the youthful entertainment team drew level through Sound Sultan, after some sloppy goalkeeping by Waidi Akanni, who hitherto had been impressive.
Ex-Barcelona man Gbenga Okunowo and Agali, who had earlier lost a spot kick in regulation time, failed to score their kicks to hand victory to the jubilant entertainers.
The Sand Eagles won the first three editions of the tournament but finished as runners-up in 2015.
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