Nigeria’s Super Sand Eagles yesterday retained the Copa Lagos Beach Soccer Championship title as they maintained a 100 per cent unbeaten run.

Portugal was the Eagles final opponent of this year’s edition of the championship which was held at the beach stadium of the Eko hotel as the Seleccao das Quinas were beaten 8-7 after playing a fulltime of three periods at 7-7, and a clinical finish was achieved by the Eagles to emerge winners once again.

The Super sand eagles also recorded a sweet than ever journey to the finals of the championship as they cruised all the way there with unbeaten record as they won all three of their games at the four-team invitational tournament in Lagos, beating Lebanon 7-6 and Argentina 5-0 on Friday and Saturday respectively.

Yesterday final started on a least expected mode for Portugal was hit b a quick move from the Sand Eagles which Bartholomew Ibenegbu happened to be the finisher but was unfortunate because the referee blew for an infringement, even though his effort found the back of Portugal’s net.

But two minutes to the end of the first period, Ogbonnaya Okemmiri caught Portugal goalkeeper, Paulo Graca out of position to give Nigeria a 1-0 lead from a defensive challenge.

In retaliation to the Eagles goal Jose Maria scored twice via two overhead kicks to hand Portugal a 2-1 lead in the space of two minutes, but thanks Kwara United striker, Abu Azeez who did all to make the score even as that only lasted a while because Bruno Torres’ low free kick from almost the halfway put Portugal ahead of the Sand Eagles again to be 3-2.

A minute to end the first period, Portugal showed they were on fire as  a Rui Coimbra move dazzled the Eagles and  slipped the ball into a corner as Eagles goalkeeper watched the ball helplessly going into the net to make it  a 4-2 lead for Portugal.

With so much firepower taken into second period, Portugal were full of brace as Marinho Dante, Jordan and Bruno Novo pounded the Eagles to put the scores at 7-3 to nudge Portugal ahead with three goals

Three minutes to end the second period, Ibenegbu picked out Olawale on the left and he expertly side-stepped the ball past Carlos to cut down Portugal’s lead to three.

In the space of ten seconds, Nigeria closed the gap to two goals as Tale scored with over a minute left in the period off a corner kick to put the score at 5-7.

And the third period began on breakneck speed with Azeez netting his fifth goal of Copa Lagos to become the leading scorer.

Four minutes to the final period, Coimbra’s short pass led to Graca upending Badmus Babatunde, who calmly converted the resultant spot kick to put the game at 7-7 to send the game into extra time and in extra time, Ibenegbu put the icing on the cake as Nigeria went 8-7 up.