EKET, Akwa Ibom — Eket Local Government Area delivered a commanding performance to defeat Mbo 3-1 and emerge champions of the Sen. Ekong Sampson Unity Cup at the Eket Township Stadium on Sunday.
The victory secured the Senatorial Districts Talent Hunt Trophy for the hosts, who outplayed their opponents before an enthusiastic crowd to bring the competition to a fitting conclusion.
Beyond the final score, the tournament provided a platform for emerging footballers across Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District to showcase their abilities, with Senator Ekong Sampson urging young players to combine talent with discipline, unity and hard work.
Sampson, a former sports writer, challenged the players to approach football with the commitment required to succeed at the highest level, pointing to global icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as examples of how discipline and dedication could translate into sustained excellence.
He also urged the youths to look beyond the immediate rewards of the game, noting that football offered significant commercial opportunities for players capable of developing their talents and maintaining professional standards.
The senator pledged to assist promising players in accessing opportunities with top European clubs, while assuring participants that future editions of the competition would be improved. He also reaffirmed his commitment to supporting sports development in schools.
Organised by the Grassroots Federation (GRASSOF), led by Mr John Ekpenyong, and sponsored by the Sen. Ekong Sampson family, the tournament brought together teams representing 12 local government areas in Akwa Ibom South Senatorial District.
The top three teams shared a prize pool of ₦5 million, while all participating teams were also entitled to undisclosed sums, according to the organisers.
Sampson acknowledged the contributions of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, Akwa Ibom State Governor Umo Eno, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, represented at the event by Pastor Bassey James, the participating local government chairmen and GRASSOF in supporting the competition.
The final drew a notable gathering of football stakeholders, local government officials and former Nigerian internationals, underscoring the tournament’s appeal as a grassroots talent-development initiative.
Among those present were former Super Eagles stars Friday Ekpo and Andrew Uwe, alongside former goalkeeper Bassey Akpan.
With Eket securing the title, the competition ended with a clear message from its sponsor: grassroots football must be supported not only as a source of entertainment but also as a pathway to professional careers, youth development and greater unity across the senatorial district.
