Prosperity Cup Organizers Seal Barcelona Partnership Deal

Posted : 22 January 2026

Organizers of the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, also known as the Prosperity Cup, have signed a major partnership deal with Spanish football giants Barcelona FC ahead of the 2026 edition of the competition.

Director-General of the Prosperity Cup, Ono Akpe, disclosed this while briefing journalists at a pre-event World Press Conference held at the Golden Tulip Resort, Onopa, Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital.

Akpe noted that officials from FC Barcelona will arrive in Yenagoa from Monday, February 23 to Wednesday, February 25, for an international coaching clinic organized in collaboration with the Bayelsa State Ministry of Sports Development and the Bayelsa State Football Association (BFA).

The DG explained that the UEFA-certified capacity-building training, comprising both theoretical and practical sessions, is intended for 50 coaches—40 Bayelsa-based grassroots football coaches and 10 slots reserved for coaches from outside the state.

The coaching clinic, according to Akpe, will focus on the coaching methodology and philosophy of Barcelona FC.

He added that the clinic, led by Barcelona FC coaches and coordinated by Bernard Villa Boas, Technical Director for Africa Project, will dovetail into another coaching program organized in conjunction with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), with NFF Technical Director Austine Eguavoen as the focal person.

Akpe also revealed that the Prosperity Cup–Barcelona FC partnership, facilitated by Whiz-Kid Ventures of the Netherlands, will culminate in the establishment of a world-class football academy in Yenagoa, where talents from the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament—the largest grassroots football competition in Nigeria—will be nurtured and mentored.

The DG said preparations are being intensified for a seamless edition of the tournament. He expressed delight that the partnership agreement with Barcelona FC coincides with Bayelsa State’s 30th anniversary and noted that the 2026 edition will celebrate the state’s milestone.

Other capacity-building initiatives planned alongside the tournament include a referees refresher program, a three-day intensive training for medical personnel, and a one-day training for media personnel and coordinators of the various match centres.

Akpe explained that these programs aim to acquaint officials with modern trends and have historically improved the careers of referees and grassroots coaches in the state.

In commemoration of Bayelsa State’s 30th anniversary, the prize money for the male category has been increased to N30 million, while the female category has been raised to N10 million. He clarified that prize money will revert to N10 million and N5 million for male and female categories respectively after this special edition.

While appreciating the Bayelsa State Government, local coaches, the BFA, and sponsor Premium Trust Bank, Akpe called on multinational oil companies, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, and the Niger Delta Development Commission to co-sponsor the competition in alignment with the vision of Governor Senator Douye Diri.

Tournament Director Ebi Avi confirmed that 30 centres across the state have been approved for the preliminary rounds, with the competition kicking off at the Brass centre on March 1, 2026. He also provided the schedule for subsequent rounds: local government finals from April 8–20, Round of 32 from April 22–24, Round of 16 on April 25–26, quarter-finals on April 28, semi-finals on April 30, and the third-place match and grand finale on May 1–2, 2026.

The organizers also announced the individual award winners from the previous edition. In the male category, Elton Mina of Movers FC, Otuasega, won the golden boot with seven goals. Precious Abidde and Prince Jacob of Advanced Dreams FA received the Golden Glove and Most Valuable Player awards, respectively.

In the female category, Marian Edward and Korlu Godgift of Afini Ladies FC won Best Goalkeeper and Most Valuable Player, while Mary Ayeloh of Crystal Stars FA claimed the Golden Boot. Each award winner received N50,000.

Prosperity Cup Organizers Seal Barcelona Partnership Deal

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