The Central Organizing Committee (COC) of the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, popularly known as the Prosperity Cup, has deployed its technical team to inspect proposed match venues across the state in preparation for the 2026 edition.
The inspections focus on evaluating the condition of playing surfaces, accessibility to host communities, and security arrangements at the sites.
A total of 35 centres have been proposed, with 30 expected to be selected for the preliminary rounds to mark the 30th anniversary of Bayelsa State’s creation.
The tournament’s official kick-off is scheduled for Thursday, February 26, 2026, coinciding with the arrival of technical officials from Spanish club FC Barcelona.
Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, is expected to join the Barcelona representatives for the ceremonial kick-off.
The high-profile collaboration with FC Barcelona, facilitated through their Netherlands-based agents Whiz-kid Ventures, includes a three-day UEFA-certified international coaching clinic for 50 local grassroots coaches.
The clinic, running from February 23 to 25, 2026, will be coordinated by Bernat Villa Gorriz, FC Barcelona’s Technical Director for Africa Projects. Sessions will emphasize the club’s modern coaching methodologies and philosophy.
The programme is organized in partnership with the Bayelsa State Ministry of Sports Development and the Bayelsa State Football Association (BFA), and supported by Abuja-based sports marketing firm Red Sapphire Ltd.
Following the Barcelona clinic, an additional training session will be conducted in collaboration with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), led by Technical Director Austin Eguavoen.
Key upcoming activities include the distribution of kits to participating teams and the competition draws on Thursday, February 19, 2026.
The grand finale is slated for Saturday, May 9, 2026, at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa.
The FC Barcelona visit also opens discussions on establishing a world-class football academy in Bayelsa State, alongside potential collaborations in administrator training, talent scouting, and player development pathways into academies and clubs.
This special 2026 edition celebrates both Bayelsa State’s 30th anniversary and the sixth year of Governor Diri’s “Assured Prosperity” administration. Prize money has been significantly boosted: male category winners will receive N30 million, runners-up N10 million; female category winners N10 million, runners-up N5 million.
Organisers are intensifying preparations with capacity-building workshops for referees, medical personnel, centre coordinators, and media practitioners to ensure a seamless tournament.
The Prosperity Cup remains Nigeria’s largest grassroots football competition, drawing hundreds of teams from across the state.
