Son of former Super Eagles midfielder scores first senior goal for Serie A club Empoli

Emmanuel Ekong scored his first senior goal for Italian Serie A club Empoli in a 2-1 win over Torino in the second round of the Coppa Italia on Tuesday night, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

Emmanuel is the son of former Super Eagles midfielder Prince Ikpe Ekong, who was a member of the Nigeria side that finished third at the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations, featuring in a group game versus Benin and the bronze medal match against Mali.

Thirty minutes into the contest, Emmanuel Ekong broke the deadlock as he headed in a delivery from Nicolas Haas. 

After former Southampton man Ché Adams brought the game back to parity with sixteen minutes left on the clock, Nicolas Haas popped up with the game-winning goal at minute 90.

Emmanuel's first goal for Empoli came in his ninth appearance and after logging 99 minutes comprising 43 minutes in the Serie A and 46 minutes in the Coppa Italia.

The 22-year-old notched 24 goals for Empoli's youth teams before his promotion to the first team.

Prior to his first senior goal for Empoli, he scored three times in twenty-two outings during a loan spell at Croatian club NK Istra in 2023-2024.

Speculation was rife that he was to be loaned out again in the summer but the forward stayed put at Empoli and has been included in all the matchday squads, playing in five games. 

Born in Reggio Emilia, Emmanuel Ekong is also eligible to represent the national teams of Sweden and his country of birth, Italy, apart from Nigeria. 

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

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