Like many players in beach soccer, Olawale started as a footballer but despite a career in beach soccer which span more than 14 years, the 33-year-old still wants to play for the Super Eagles.

Olawale already has three caps for Super Eagles under Berti Vogts but wants to play again for the Nigerian senior national football team.

“When Berti Vogts was coach, he called me up and I played a few games for Nigeria,” Olawale told FIFA official website.

“I have not given up playing for them again, but I have to be realistic. There are many good Nigerian midfielders and it will not be easy for me to get into the side.”

The midfielder still maintains a football career, playing for El-Kanemi Warriors in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

Olawale led the Sand Eagles to second-place in the 2016 CAF Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nationsto qualify for the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Bahamas.

Nigeria return to the world stage after missing out on the last tournaments and have been placed in Group with Iran, Italy and Mexico.

“All the teams we will be facing are very, very good teams,” Olawale said.

“However, and I say that with the utmost of respect to our opponents, we don't have to overestimate anybody.

“We will take each match as it comes. But we will try our very best. We have to be at our best if we want to make it through to the next round.

“We have faced some of the teams before and we know that any team that has qualified for the World Cup deserves to be there.”