Bayelsa State has secured a major international football partnership after Spanish giants FC Barcelona signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the state government to establish a football academy in the Niger Delta state.
The agreement was signed during the final of the 2026 Prosperity Cup at the Samson Siasia Sports Complex in Yenagoa.
Bayelsa Commissioner for Sports, Dr Daniel Igali, signed for the state government, while Mr Bernat Villa Garris represented Barcelona. Former Nigeria Football Federation President Amaju Pinnick and NFF Secretary General Dr Mohammed Sanusi witnessed the ceremony.
Governor Douye Diri described the partnership as a major youth development initiative aimed at creating opportunities through sports and steering young people away from social vices. He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to completing the proposed 30,000-seat stadium project in 2027.
Diri said the Prosperity Cup has expanded significantly since his administration took office in 2020. According to him, the tournament grew from over 100 teams last year to 227 teams in 2026, with female and para categories now included. The female competition featured 21 teams.
Barcelona representative Bernat Villa Garris said the club was impressed by the football talent in Bayelsa and expressed interest in supporting the development of players and coaches.
Amaju Pinnick praised the Bayelsa government’s investment in grassroots football, stating that the Niger Delta possesses talents capable of reaching the level of players like Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi.
The event also received support from Premium Trust Bank, Linkage Assurance Plc, NDDC, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Arco Engineering and Binad Table Water.
The Barcelona partnership reinforces Bayelsa’s growing reputation as one of Nigeria’s rising centres for grassroots football development and highlights the immense talent continuing to emerge from the Niger Delta.
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