Bayelsa Barcelona football academy deal signed as both parties partner to develop young football talents in the state

The Bayelsa State Government and Spanish football giants FC Barcelona have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a football academy in the state, marking a major step in grassroots sports development in Nigeria.

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The agreement was signed on Friday at the grand finale of the 2026 Prosperity Cup held at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

Bayelsa State Commissioner for Sports, Dr Daniel Igali, signed on behalf of the state government, while Mr Bernat Villa Garris represented Barcelona during the ceremony witnessed by former Nigeria Football Federation President, Amaju Pinnick, and the federation’s Secretary General, Dr Mohammed Sanusi.

Speaking after the signing, Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, described the partnership as a powerful opportunity to productively engage young people through football and steer them away from crime and other social vices.

Diri said his administration would continue to prioritise investment in sports infrastructure and youth development, assuring residents that the proposed 30,000-capacity stadium project would be completed in 2027.

The governor noted that the Prosperity Cup had evolved significantly since his administration assumed office in 2020, growing into one of Nigeria’s biggest grassroots football tournaments.

According to him, participation increased from just over 100 teams last year to 227 teams in the latest edition, with female and para football categories also introduced.

“Almost every club in the world now has a female team. We had 21 female teams in this edition and it is still developing,” Diri said.

The governor also praised the improved quality of football displayed during the competition, noting that many of the players were homegrown talents from Bayelsa.

In the men’s final, Okoroma United from Nembe Local Government Area defeated Akinima Biogbo of Ogboloma in Yenagoa Local Government Area 1-0 to emerge champions of the eighth edition of the tournament.

Okoroma United received the enhanced grand prize of N40 million, while runners-up Akinima Biogbo went home with N13 million.

The prize money for the champions increased after Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, donated an additional N10 million during the event.

In the women’s category, Active Ladies of Agudama edged defending champions Afini Ladies of Amarata by a lone goal to claim the N10 million top prize, while the runners-up received N7 million.

A member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Ali Isa, further boosted the competition by donating N5 million to the female champions and another N5 million to support the organisers.

Barcelona representative Bernat Villa Garris said the club was impressed by the level of football talent discovered in Bayelsa and expressed readiness to strengthen cooperation with the state.

“It is a pleasure for us to be here in Bayelsa to see the big improvement that the state is making in sports and we would love to be part of this big event,” Garris said.

“We would like to come more often to support the development of players and coaches.”

Former NFF president Pinnick also commended the Bayelsa government for its deliberate investment in sports development, describing the performance of players in the final as encouraging.

Pinnick added that the Niger Delta possessed enormous football potential, comparing the region’s emerging talents to Barcelona teenage sensation Lamine Yamal and club legend Lionel Messi.

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The Managing Director of Premium Trust Bank, Dr Emmanuel Emefienim, represented by the bank’s Chief Business Officer for the South-South region, Dr Aniebet Offiong, reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to sports development across Nigeria.