Crusaders FC of Peretoru-gbene and Youbolobo of Agge have joined Eternal Grace Ministry, EGM of Yenagoa and Bayelsa United Feeders in the semi-finals of Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football showpiece, the Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament, christened Prosperity Cup.
Both teams scrape through after highly tensed quarterfinal battles.
In the last set of quarter-final matches decided on Tuesday at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa, one the tournament’s most surprising sides, Youbolobo FC of Agge in Ekeremor LGA stunned Advance Dreams FA of Yenagoa 4-3 on penalties to reach the money-spinning stage of the competition after a one-all draw in regulation time.
John Benidiowei put the Youbolobo FC in front on 23 minutes from a perfect finish to keep the scores at one nil at halftime in an encounter watched by the Director General of the tournament, Mr Ono Akpe, former national team coach, Finidi George, former Bendel Insurance coach, Monday Odigie and other stakeholders at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa.
Advance Dreams FA levelled the scores on 50 minutes through Goodluck Bonazide’s strike to stretch the game into penalties.
In the second match of the day, former champions, Crusaders FC of Peretorugbene pipped Ogbia champions, Citiboi FC by a lone goal in a keenly fought encounter to qualify for the semi finals of Nigeria’s largest grassroots football showpiece.
Vincent Great’s 39th minute strike was all the former champions needed to progress to the semi-finals having won the Ekeremor Local Government Area title against Youbolobo FC.
The semi final lineup is now set with Bayelsa United Feeders of Yenagoa, Eternal Grace Ministry, EGM FC of Yenagoa, Youbolobo FC of Agge in Ekeremor LGA and Crusaders FC of Peretorugbene, also of Ekeremor LGA to slug it out in the semi-finals of the Prosperity Cup as the quest for the Fifty Million Naira (#50,000,000.00) prize money hits fever pitch.
The semi-final pairings will see Bayelsa United Feeders battle Youbolobo, while two former champions, EGM FC and Crusaders FC of Peretorugbene will battle each other in the second semi-final encounter. All the games will be decided at the Samson Siasia Stadium on Thursday, 29th of May, 2025.
Fielding questions from reporters an emotional tournament Director General, Mr Ono Akpe said the seed sowed over the years in the prosperity Cup was gradually yielding its desired result, particularly with the exploits of Precious Benjamin in the Under-20 African Cup of Nations competition in Egypt.
According to him, the investment put into grassroots sports development by the governor, Senator Douye Diri is yielding positive results.
He recalled when Benjamin was signed on in the Gambian league, he knew he would excel, pointing out that the Gambian move was just a preparatory to a bigger future.
He explained that the attacking sensation was scouted in the SPOCS scouting programme at Remo, Ogun State and in the 3rd Douye Diri International Scouting Tournament in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State as well as the 2023 Bayelsa Governor’s Football Tournament.
Describing the Prosperity Cup as a potential breeding ground for the various cadet national teams, the DG, opined that he was pleased with the quality of football exhibited by all the quarter-finalists, stating that the what was displayed in the quarter-finals of the tournament was indicative of the abundance of talents in the state,
On his part, Citiboi FC Head Coach, Gomo Onduku noted that his lads gave their best, attributing the defeat to fatigue due to their involvement in the Nationwide League One, Uyo in Akwa Ibom State.
Also, Assistant Coach of Crusaders FC, Newall Ayibabogha commended his team for the show of determination and commitment, saying that their target is to win the competition for the second time.
