Gokana Utd Holds Super Eagles In Rivers

The Super Eagles were held to a 1-1 draw Nationale Amateur lower league side Gokana United in a preparatory match played at the newly built Gokana Stadium at the outskirts of Port Harcourt on Saturday.

The tie was the inaugural game to be played at the ultra modern Gokana Stadium which is considered to be the first of its kind to be built by a local government, under the administration of Hon Demua Ledee Demua.

The Eagles struggled to establish their dominance over the Amateur Division One campaigners in the early minutes of the game as a result of the bumpy pitch which the Local Government chairman Hon. Demua has  promised to improve upon.

But Stephen Keshi’s men however took the lead in the 15th minute through Barnabas Imenger, after the Lobi Stars forward profited from a swift exchange between Rabiu Ali, Ejike Uzoenyi and Abubakar Aliyu which fell for him to blast in.

Gokana United however responded positively as they equalised three minutes later, when goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim was forced to parry a scorching shot into his own net.

Both teams produced impressive performances in the second half but failed to score any goals.

After the game, Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi hailed the Gokana United team for putting up a stiff resistance, but noted that his players had to take it easy as a result of the poor nature of the pitch.

There was however an injury scare to left-back Yinka Adedeji, who picked up an injury while warming up for the game.

In attendance among the  fans that crammed the stadium were Rivers State Governor, Rt Hon Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi, former Green Eagles skipper, Chief Olusegun Odegbami, who represented NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari.

Also in attendance were former Super Eagles skipper, Austin Eguavoen, former African Footballer of the Year, Victor Ikpeba, SWAN National President, Seidu Abubakar, Senator Magnus Abe and several top government officials from Rivers State.