ACCRA: Ghana's national male beach soccer team, the Black Sharks, have embarked on their journey to Egypt to compete in the Beach Soccer African Cup of Nations (AFCON). The tournament, scheduled to take place from October 19 to October 26, will feature eight countries divided into two groups. According to Ghana News Agency, the team's Assistant Coach, Julius Ceasar Bekley, expressed confidence in their preparation and readiness to perform well on the continental stage. "We have prepared adequately for the tournament," Bekley stated, highlighting the team's recent friendly matches in Keta, where they won three out of four games. He emphasized the strategic insights gained from these matches as they head into AFCON. The Black Sharks' squad comprises 12 players selected from an initial group of 17, adhering to the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) regulations. The team includes two goalkeepers, Daniel Kudodah and Robert Nyadedzor, and a mix of defenders and strikers from various beach soccer clubs acro ss Ghana. Prominent players include Captain Richard Martei Osai and strikers from clubs like Cheetah BSC and Sea Sharks BSC. The team has been in camp in Keta since October 6, focusing on strategies and teamwork ahead of their AFCON campaign. They secured their spot in the tournament with a decisive 10-5 aggregate victory over the Sand Elephants of Cote D'Ivoire in the qualifiers. The Black Sharks are placed in Group A with Egypt, Morocco, and Tanzania, and will kick off their campaign against Egypt on October 19. Group B features defending champions Senegal, alongside Mozambique, Malawi, and Mauritania. The tournament's finalists will earn the opportunity to participate in the 2025 Beach Soccer World Cup in Seychelles. Players from the Black Sharks have expressed optimism about their prospects of winning the AFCON and securing a place in the World Cup after an eight-year hiatus from the competition.