Keta is set to host a three-day Tourism and Beach Soccer Festival from October 16 to 18, 2026, combining the Ghana–Nigeria Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) second-leg qualifier with tourism, culture, entertainment, business and community activities.

The event, tagged Keta Tourism & Beach Soccer Weekend, will centre on the decisive qualifier at the Keta Beach Soccer Arena, also known as Emancipation Beach, on Sunday, October 18.

Organisers say the initiative is designed to turn the international beach soccer fixture into a broader destination experience, showcasing Keta’s beaches, hospitality, culture and sporting potential to visitors from Ghana, Nigeria and beyond.

The three-day programme will open on Friday, October 16, with the Keta Tourism & Beach Soccer Forum, bringing together tourism stakeholders, investors, sports administrators, media organisations, businesses and community leaders.

The forum will focus on opportunities within Keta’s emerging beach economy, with discussions expected to highlight the potential of sports tourism to support local businesses, attract investment and create opportunities for young people and tourism operators.

Activities will continue on Saturday, October 17, with the Keta Ghana–Nigeria Fun Day, featuring a supporters’ beach walk, fitness activities, beach games and a range of cultural and entertainment attractions.

One of the major attractions will be the Great Jollof Battle, alongside cultural performances, a Ghana–Nigeria DJ battle, live artist performances and a beach bonfire experience.

The weekend will reach its sporting climax on Sunday, October 18, when Ghana and Nigeria face off in the second leg of their Beach Soccer AFCON qualifying tie at the Keta Beach Soccer Arena.

The matchday programme will include a supporters’ parade and additional fan activities before the qualifier, followed by a post-match “One Beach, Two Nations” closing celebration.

Beyond the football pitch, organisers said the initiative is intended to provide a platform for local enterprises, creatives, tourism operators and young people to benefit from the increased visitor activity generated by the international fixture.

The organisers also see the weekend as an opportunity to strengthen the connection between sport and destination promotion, using beach soccer as a vehicle to draw attention to Keta’s coastal attractions and broader tourism potential.

The Keta Beach Soccer and Tourism Initiative, which is coordinating the programme, is chaired by Frank Yaovi Lawoe.

Other members of the organising group are Dzidodo Ruben Adjahoe, Freeman Gobah, Clifford Selasie Kekeshie, Emmanuel Apedo, Joel Degue and Marie-Laure Kudonou.

The organising group said additional members and technical support personnel may be co-opted where necessary to strengthen the delivery of specific components of the programme.

With Ghana and Nigeria meeting in a continental beach soccer qualifier, organisers are hoping the October weekend will combine sporting competition with a memorable cultural and tourism experience while providing a platform for Keta to promote its coastal identity and economic potential.