Eternal Grace Ministry EGM FC of Yenagoa have emerged champions of Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football spectacle, the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament.
EGM were equally champions in 2022, making them the only team to have achieved that feat.
Playing in front of over Five Thousand enthusiastic soccer fans at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa, EGM FC beat Advance Dreams Football Academy 3-2 in a dramatic penalty shootout after a barren draw in regulation time.
Champions EGM FC came very close to scoring in the first half through Don Pedro Samuel but they were cut short by a very disciplined Advance Dreams FA defence line. On resumption from halftime break, Advance Dreams coach made few changes but it was not enough to earn them the much needed win.
By this feat, EGM FC Head Coach, Felix Sueze has now become the first coach to win the tournament twice, the first in 2022 and again in 2025. In 2023, he led De Grace FC to the final where they lost to eventual champions, Crusaders 4-3 on penalties.
Earlier in the women’s final, youthful Afini Ladies of Amarata came from a goal down to beat Ezuogha Soccer Academy of Yenagoa 5-3 on penalties after a one-all draw in regulation time. Afini Ladies finished third last season in the tournament.
Declaring the spectacle close, a visibly impressed Governor Douye Diri said the quality of football witnessed in the female final is a testament of the growth of female football in Bayelsa state, stating that his administration remains committed to seeing more youths earn a living through sports.
He urged the youths in the state to get involved in sports, which remains one of the surest ways to stardom rather than indulge in activities that are capable of destroying their lives.
According to the state’s helmsman, his administration would continue to invest in sports, pointing out that, that is why the administration is embarking on the construction of a 25,000-capacity stadium. He equally assured that the Prosperity administration is committed to completing the stadium in the next two years.
He disclosed that the commissioner for Sports Development, Dr Daniel Igali has been directed to submit a bid for the hosting of the 2028 National Sports Festival, by which time the stadium would have been completed, emphasizing that the aim of the government is to make Bayelsa the number one sporting state in the country.
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Governor Diri expressed appreciation to all the sponsors for their support, particularly Premium Trust Bank, urging other corporate organizations, especially the international oil companies, and the organized private sector to invest in sports development in the state.
His words: “Bayelsa State has started supporting female football to the fullest, for the first time we watched our female football growing in Bayelsa State, and I believe we can export players outside the state and beyond”
“We will continue to invest in the youths through the development of sports, that is why we are building a world class stadium in Yenagoa, and we are very ambitious and working to ensure its completion two years time”.
In his remarks, President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, applauded the governor for giving sports in Bayelsa a new direction, stating that the governor has written his name in gold, especially with the Prosperity Cup.
In separate goodwill messages, Director General, National Institute for Sports, Philip Shaibu and the chairperson of the Nigeria Women Football League, NWFL, Nkechi Obi, applauded the governor for ensuring that the youths in the state actualize their full potentials through sports.
Commissioner for Sports Development, Dr. Daniel Igali noted that Bayelsa’s excellent sporting performances in the last five years, speaks volume of the governor’s unparalleled love for sports.
Earlier in an address of welcome, Director General of tournament, Mr Ono Akpe, emphasized that, the tournament has continued serve as a platform for grassroots players in the state to display their innate skills, maintaining that the increase in the monetary benefit of the competition is as a result of the governor’s steadfast commitment to sports development.
He explained that in 2021 when Bayelsa United won the Aiteo Cup in Benin City, Edo State, 80% of the players were products of the tournament, pointing out that their target is to make the tournament an internationally recognized event.
Mr. Akpe stated that players from the just-concluded scouting programme will participate in different pre-season tournaments such as the Optima Energy Gold Cup Pre-season Tournament in Ogun State, Eko International Cup Football Tournament (EIC) in Lagos, South South Pre-Season Tournament in Aba and Bayelsa State Pre-season Tournament.
Champions EGM FC smiled home with the sum of ten million naira (#10,000,000), Advance Dreams FA received five million naira #5,000,000, Crusaders FC received two million naira (#2,000,000) while 4th placed Bayelsa United received one million naira (#1,000,000).
Afini Ladies received five million naira (#5,000,000) for emerging champions of female tournament, runners-up Ezougha Soccer Academy got two million (#2,000,000) Naira while second runners-up Bayelsa Stars Queens went home with #1,500,000 and 4th placed BYSCON Queens were rewarded with one million naira #1,000,000).
The highpoint of the event was the presentation of a new coaster bus to the NWFL champions, Bayelsa Queens, by Premium Trust Bank to facilitate their transportation during the next league season.
In attendance were the wife of the Governor, Dr. Mrs Gloria Diri, Mrs. Marie Ebikake and Mitema Obordor of the House of Representatives, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere and members of the House of Assembly and the Secretary to the state government Prof. Nimibofa Ayawei, members of the State Executive Council, Managing Director Premium Trust Bank, Mr. Emmanuel Efe Emefienim, Chairman Nigeria National League NNL, Mr. George Aluo, NFF Technical Director, Austin Eguavoen, among other dignitaries.
