Gli Azzurri players celebrate during the game against Nigeria | FIFA

• Gabriele Gori scores six times in Italy’s opening victory
• Paolo Palmacci’s hat-trick included two bicycle kick goals
• Nigeria next game: vs Mexico, Italy next game: vs Iran, both on 29 April

Italy turned on the style to defeat Nigeria 12-6 in their opening Group B match at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017.

Gabriele Gori followed his impressive scoring exploits in European qualifying with six goals against the West Africans in Nassau on Thursday.

Paolo Palmacci contributed to the victory with a hat-trick, including two bicycle kick goals.

Though Azeez Abu scored a hat-trick for the Nigerians, they were no match for the firepower of Italy, who are ranked fourth in the world, in this curtain raiser for both nations.

FIFA