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Former Super Eagles stars Friday Ekpo and Andrew Uwe were among the spectators who watched with excitement as Mbo LGA opened their Akwa Ibom State Sports Festival football campaign with a convincing 4-1 victory over Etinan at the Uyo Township Stadium on Tuesday.
Etinan started brightly, dominating the opening exchanges and looking dangerous in possession. However, Mbo soon settled into the contest, with Coach Victor’s young side taking control of the midfield and wings to the delight of more than 5,000 spectators who witnessed the opening football fixture.
Etieno Ime opened the scoring for Mbo before Saviour Emmanuel took centre stage, scoring twice to put his side firmly in command. Hezekiah Uwem added the fourth goal as Mbo’s youthful attack repeatedly exposed gaps in the Etinan defence.
Etinan managed a consolation goal in the second half when Nsikak Udo produced a well-taken free kick, but Mbo remained in control to secure an emphatic 4-1 victory. The team also enjoyed strong support from their Local Government Chairman, Hon. Sunday Etim, who watched from the dugout and offered encouragement throughout the encounter.
Former Super Eagles midfielder Andrew Uwe praised the teenagers for their display, describing the match as an encouraging exhibition of young talent. “It was a good game and both teams showed good potential,” Uwe said, while highlighting the quality and promise on display from the U18 players.
Ekpo, another former Super Eagles star, was particularly impressed by Mbo’s midfielders and wingers, whose energy and technical quality helped turn the game in their team’s favour. He noted that their performance provided the platform for Mbo to dominate and eventually secure the comfortable victory.
Etim, who had earlier promised an undisclosed cash reward for his players, expressed delight with the team’s performance and said he believes strongly in developing team sports. “I support team sports like football because these young lads have been training together for a long time. This Sports Festival is an opportunity for them to test their performance, build confidence and gain valuable experience,” he said.
