Referees Admit Blunder As Nigeria, Ghana Remain Locked At 3–3
By TAYO TAIWO (T. T.) OLUWOLE
Referees Admit Error After 3–3 Draw
THE Moroccan referee and his assistants have admitted making an officiating error after Nigeria and Ghana played out a 3–3 draw in the first leg of their 2026 CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations qualifying tie in Kaduna on Saturday.
Referee Driss Lamghaidar and his team came under scrutiny after they ordered extra time and a penalty shootout, even though the match was only the opening leg of a two-match qualifying contest at Murtala Muhammed Square Beach Soccer Pitch.
The decision reportedly confused spectators and dignitaries at the venue. Consequently, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) sought an immediate explanation from the match officials.
During a meeting later that Saturday, Lamghaidar acknowledged the mistake and confirmed that the match should have ended after regulation time. Qualification, he explained, should instead be decided after the return leg in Keta, Ghana, on Sunday 18 October.
Manga’s Hat-Trick Keeps Nigeria in Contention
On the pitch, Nigeria’s Isa Hamza Manga delivered an outstanding performance by scoring all three goals for the hosts. However, Ghana’s Black Sharks matched the home side through Mawuli Sosu, who scored twice, and Wise Nyamadi, who added the other goal.
As a result, the tie remains level at 3–3, leaving both countries with everything to play for in the return fixture.
The NFF moved quickly to seek clarification because the officials’ decision to proceed to extra time and penalties appeared inconsistent with the two-legged format of the qualifying tie.
High-Profile Attendance as Decisive Leg Approaches
Several sports officials and government representatives watched the encounter, including National Sports Commission Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko, NFF Acting General Secretary Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme and Kaduna State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Hon. Ben Kure.
Others in attendance included Barrister Musa Amadu and Clement Nwankpa, special assistants to the NSC chairman; NFF Acting Deputy General Secretary Dr Ademola Olajire; and the NSC chairman’s personal assistant, Alhaji Ahmad Muazu.
Attention now shifts to Keta, where the second leg will determine which side advances in the race to qualify for the 2026 CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations in Senegal.
