By Jonathan Ugbal
The Hilltop Football Club of Obudu on Thursday beat the Cross River State Football Association champions, May and Frank Akpo, MFAF Football Club one nil at the J. A. Agba Memorial stadium in Obudu to win the maiden Chief Francis Ingwubel Akpo football tournament.
Midfielder, Simon Akwa Adeshina capitalized on what seemed to be a refereeing error to beat an offside trap set by MFAF FC to score in the first half of the game.
This is the first loss in several games for MFAF FC, who won the State FA Championship on May 30th at the U.J Esuene Stadium in Calabar, less than 24 hours after their patron, Pa Akpo, died in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
The match was kicked off by Pa Akpo’s eldest daughter, Dr. Linda Ayade, wife of the former Governor of Cross River State.
Despite MFAF FC pressing hard on a terrible pitch surrounded by scenic plateaux, Hilltop FC banked on a huge local fan base to get into the game and score from what was almost their first attempt on target.
The men were not allowed to have all the fun as Mrs. Comfort Ekpo, the Special Adviser to Mrs. Eyoawan Otu, wife of Governor Bassey Otu kicked off the ladies’ match which Tom FC of Indi-Abeb, Obudu beat the Bekwarra Women FC 4:3 on penalties after a goalless draw in regulation time.
Mr. Eric Akpo had told CrossRiverWatch earlier in the week that the games were to honor his father who loved football.
See pictures of both games below…
