CAF Beach Soccer AFCON: Ghana back among the contenders
Ghana return to the CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations Senegal 2026 determined to build on their best-ever performance at the continental finals and establish themselves among Africa's leading beach soccer nations.
The Black Sharks secured their fourth appearance at the tournament after overcoming West African rivals Nigeria 10-7 on aggregate in the qualifiers, producing a commanding 7-4 victory in the decisive return leg.
Having finished fifth at the 2024 edition in Egypt, Ghana will travel to Senegal with renewed ambition as they seek to reach the semi-finals for the first time.
The eight-team continental showpiece will take place from 28 November - 06 December 2026, with hosts and five-time defending champions Senegal among the leading contenders.
Ghana Team Profile
- Appearances: Fourth edition
- Last appearance: 2024
- Best performance: Fifth place (2024)
- Head coach: Daniel Nii Kotey
- Captain: Richard Osai
How the team qualified
Ghana booked their place at the CAF Beach Soccer AFCON Senegal 2026 with an impressive 10-7 aggregate victory over Nigeria in the final qualifying round.
The Black Sharks began their campaign with a hard-fought 3-3 draw in Kaduna on 10 October, where Mawuli Sosu scored twice and Wise Nyamadi added the third goal.
The result left the tie finely balanced ahead of the return fixture at the Emancipation Beach Soccer Arena in Keta on 18 October.
Playing in front of their home supporters, Ghana delivered a strong attacking performance to defeat Nigeria 7-4 and secure qualification for their second consecutive continental finals.
The Coach: Daniel Nii Kotey
Daniel Nii Kotey will lead Ghana into the 2026 continental finals, having overseen the Black Sharks' successful qualification campaign against Nigeria.
The Ghanaian coach has been closely involved in the development of the national beach soccer team, working to strengthen the squad's competitiveness and expand opportunities for players from across the country.
Ahead of the qualifiers, Kotey supervised a nationwide player identification exercise designed to ensure that selection was based on performance and merit.
The programme brought together players from Ghana's beach soccer regions, allowing the technical team to assess emerging talent alongside experienced internationals.
His preparations were rewarded with Ghana's qualification against Nigeria, with the Black Sharks displaying attacking quality and resilience over the two legs.
Kotey has identified qualification for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup as an important long-term objective for Ghana.
In Senegal, his immediate challenge will be to build on the team's recent progress, improve its defensive organisation and guide the Black Sharks beyond the group stage for the first time.
Key Player: Alexander Adjei
Alexander Adjei remains one of the most recognisable names in Ghanaian beach soccer, having established himself as a prolific goalscorer at continental level.
The experienced attacker was one of the outstanding performers at the 2024 CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt, where his goals proved crucial to Ghana's best-ever finish.
Adjei scored 11 goals during the tournament and was among the leading individual performers as the Black Sharks finished fifth.
His attacking contribution helped Ghana end the competition strongly, including an impressive performance in their classification matches.
The forward's experience, finishing ability and familiarity with the demands of international beach soccer make him an important figure in Ghana's broader ambitions.
With the Black Sharks hoping to reach the semi-finals for the first time, the goalscoring quality demonstrated by Adjei in previous tournaments could prove particularly valuable if he is selected for the Senegal 2026 squad.
Ghana at the CAF Beach Soccer AFCON
Ghana made their debut at the CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations in Seychelles in 2015, finishing seventh in the inaugural edition.
The Black Sharks returned the following year when the tournament was staged in Nigeria but again finished seventh, failing to progress beyond the group stage.
After missing the 2018, 2021 and 2022 editions, Ghana made their continental return at the 2024 finals in Egypt.
Although they were unable to reach the semi-finals, the Black Sharks produced an improved campaign and finished fifth, their highest placing in the competition.
Their performances included a convincing 10-3 victory over Tanzania, demonstrating the attacking potential of a squad determined to compete more consistently against Africa's established beach soccer powers.
The Black Sharks now return for a fourth appearance, encouraged by their recent qualification victory over Nigeria and the progress made during the previous edition.
With Senegal, Morocco and Mozambique among the experienced teams competing at the 2026 finals, Ghana face a demanding challenge.