Eduok turns first goal scorer at Akwa Ibom International Stadium

ONE of the leading scorers in the Nigeria Premier League, Emem Eduok on Friday night became the first player to score at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium, Uyo, which was commissioned by Goodluck Jonathan a few minutes earlier before the encounter in a colourful ceremony.

Eduok's strike came in the 35th minute in the international friendly between the home-based  Super Eagles and Ghana's Black Meteors and the effort was good enough to earn Nigeria the Transformation Cup initiated by the Akwa Ibom State governor Chief Godswill Akpabio.

The Dolphins player with 20 goals in the domestic league connected Solomon Kwambe's cross past badly positioned goalkeeper Richard Ofori for the only goal of the game.
Also on hand to grace the commissioning of the 30,000 capacity stadium were presidents of Ghana John Dramane Mahama and that of the Ivory Coast, Allasane Ouattara.  

The Nigerian team handled by ex-international Daniel Amokachi was a delight to watch while the match lasted as the Ghanaians rekindled the healthy rivalry between both countries in the game handled by FIFA-graded referee, Ferdinand Udoh who incidentally hails from Akwa Ibom State.

The home-based Super Eagles paraded Chigozie Agbim, Solomon Kwambe, Azubuike Egwuekwe,
Gbolahan Salami, Ighodaro Osagona, Christian Obiozor, Rabiu Ali, Kingsley Zokari, Bright Esieme, Umar Zongo, Emem Eduok, Mfom Udoh, Stanley Dimgba, Christian Pyagbara and Tony Edjomariegwe, among others in the grudge match.

The first player to be issued a red card at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium turned out to be Richard Yamoah of Ghana. He was sent off in the 89th minute following his offensive clash with Edjomariegwe in an attempt to stop the latter from advancing with the ball. 

Kingsley Sokari would have made it 2-0 for Nigeria in the 93rd minute but his effort was cleared off the goalline by defender Emmanuel Nti Mensah after goalkeeper Ofori had been displaced.

President Ouattara after the match decorated the Ghanaians with silver medals as President Mahama decorated the Eagles with gold medals while President Jonathan presented the gold-plated Transformation Cup to goalkeeper Agbim, who captained Nigerian on the night.

The newly-commissioned stadium known as the Nest of Champions will on November 15 play host to the Super Eagles as they tackle the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.
It will be recalled that Yakubu Mambo scored the first goal at the National Stadium, Lagos when it was commissioned on December 4, 1972 where Nigeria dumped Mali 3-0.
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Caption: Emem Eduok, the match hero.