Nigeria’s Sand Eagles during the 2016 CAF Africa Beach Soccer Cup of Nations | Getty Images

Retirement on the sandy beach of a Caribbean Country sipping on Pineapple Upside-Down Martini, Piña Colada or Sammy Sosa drink is the way to go for a 10-year veteran.

The Sand Eagles is blessed with this lot and as they lead Nigeria out again Today in the first game of the 2017 Beach Soccer World Cup, they must start counting down – in days, to their retirement from sand soccer.

According to former Nigerian player, Salisu Nakande, the senior members of the current Sand Eagles team at the World Cup in Bahamas must bow out after the competition, to allow the transition to a new generation of players trained specifically for the sport.

Nakande insists Nigeria is already behind schedule in replacing its old, trusted legs, but must now invest aggressively to establish the country as a powerhouse.

He suggested the establishment of 6 beach soccer leagues across the country to compliment what already exists.

Nakande praised the likes of Isiaka Olawale, Bartholomew Igbenegbu and Ogbonnaya Okemmiri for their contribution to the sport as they bring an end to a colorful era.

Nigeria is making its fifth appearance at the world cup, which kicks off Today.

And Audu Adamu’s men get their World Cup campaign underway against Italy at the Nassau Stadium.