… As FC Barcelona/Prosperity Cup International Scouting Exercise Enters Day Two
Okoroma United of Okoroma in Nembe Local Government Area, Active Ladies Football Academy of Agudama have both qualified for the men and women’s final in Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football fiesta, the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, tagged the Prosperity Cup.
Nembe LGA champions, Okoroma United overpowered entertaining Mountain of the Lord Deliverance Ministry, MLDM FC by three goals to two in an encounter decided at the Samson Siasia Stadium to reach an historic tournament final.
A hat trick from Noble Erasmus on 5, 54, 73 minutes and midfielder Omoro Bright’s 45 minutes, as well as James Ofiefemote’s goal just before the final whistle for MLDM FC were not enough to see them through to the final of the competition.
Okoroma United will now face the winners of the second semi-final tie between Krosaders FC of Peretorugbene and Akinima/Biogbo of Ogboloma on Tuesday, 5th May at the Samson Siasia Stadium at 4.00pm
Active Ladies FA in the first semi-final of the women’s tournament beat last year’s finalists, Ezougha Queens 3-0 on penalties after a barren draw in regulation time to reach their first Prosperity Cup final.
The second semi-final fixtures will come up on Tuesday, 5th May, 2026 as defending champions, Afini Ladies of Amarata tackle Bayelsa Stars at 2.00pm while the men’s semi final will kick-off at 4.00pm at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa.
Earlier in the day, the three-day FC Barcelona/Prosperity Cup scouting programme, aimed at discovering budden talents, got underway.
The exercise monitored by FC Barcelona officials led by FC Barcelona Directors, Bernat Villa Gorriz and Alberto Lafuente, saw Mustapha FA triumphing three nil over Yenagoa City FA in the U-15 category while Bayelsa Starlets played out a barren draw with Silina FC in the U-19 category.
The Prosperity Cup/Barcelona FC partnership, which was facilitated by Sylvester Okonkwo of Whiz-kid Ventures of the Netherlands, will culminate into the establishment of a world-class football academy in Yenagoa, where products of the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament would be nurtured and mentored as the historical MoU signing gets underway this weekend.
The Member representing Sagbama Constituency 3 in the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Mrs Ebizi Ndiomu-Brown, noted that the Prosperity Cup has improved the quality of women’s football in the State, adding that she was optimistic that products of the tournament will soon graduate into the national teams.
Mrs. Ndiomu-Brown reaffirmed her continued commitment to youth empowerment and community development through sports.
She lauded the governor, Senator Douye Diri and his Deputy, Dr. Peter Akpe for their invaluable contributions to the development of sports in the last six years of the Prosperity administration.
Victorious coach of Okoroma United, Ebinimi Festus in his post match reaction, said his team came prepared for the tournament, pointing out that their aim was to go home with the 30,000,000 prize money of the tournament.
Also, coach of MLDM FC, Collins Robert, attributed his team’s defeat to their poor outing in the first half and costly mistakes by the goalkeeper, maintaining that the team did not play to his instructions.
Prosperity Cup: Okoroma United, Active Ladies Reach Historic Tournament Final
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