Nigeria's Super Sand Eagles began their outing at the 2017 Fifa Beach World Cup at the Nassau Stadium in the Bahamas with a 6-12 defeat to Italy on Wednesday.
Gabrielle Gori proved a handful for the Nigerian team as he netted a double hat-trick and his teammate Paolo Palmacci also helped himself with a treble of goals.
It was Nigeria that began the scoring just two minutes into the contest on the beach of Nassau when Abu Azeez fired in a free kick. Within seconds, Italy were back in the contest through Palmacci.
The Italians should have gone into the lead with six minutes left in the first period but Dario Ramacciotti's effort came off the post and Akwa United's Godspower Igudia instead powered Nigeria in front. Emmanuele Zurlo levelled matters for Italy at 2-2 before the end of the first period.
At the start of the second period, Danjuma Paul in Nigeria's goal saved Zurlo's spot kick and at the other end, Simone Del Mestre denied Ikechukwu Ibenegbu from restoring Nigeria's lead.
Gori showed Nigeria what was to come with an overhead kick which Paul saved five minutes into the second period. The Italian captain Francesco Corosiniti missed two good scoring chances.
Five minutes to end the second period, the Gori show began. His first goal was a fortunate touch off Simone Marinai's effort that went in. A minute later, he headed in a cross from an unmarked position to make it 4-2 to Italy.
Victor Tale then produced a moment of individual brilliance to set himself up for an overhead kick which he scored for Nigeria. The Sand Eagles had the chance to tie the game at 4-4 but captain Isiaka Olawale's spot kick was saved by Del Mestre.
Gori was again produced another acrobatic attempt which went through the legs of Paul to restore Italy's two-goal lead. The last one minute of the second period was end-to-end as Emeka Ogbonna neatly tucked away a good pass to make the score 4-5 with Nigeria trailing. Italy had the final say in the second period as Michele Di Palma fired in their sixth goal of the game.
It took four minutes before a goal was scored in the third period. Abu's effort dragged Nigeria back into the contest. However two quickfire goals by Gori gave the Italians an 8-5 lead. Palmacci added two more for the Europeans to extend their lead to 10-5.
Gori then stole in behind Nigeria's last man to score acrobatically to make it 11-5 before Abu got his hat-trick which perhaps was the only joy the Nigerians would take from the game as consolation.
Alfioluca Chiavaro then put the icing on the cake for a superb Italian performance with a goal to make it 12-6.
The Sand Eagles will face Mexico this Saturday. The Mexicans lost 2-3 to Iran in the other Group B game.