Gombe Emir’s unity cup committee inaugurated, N10m prize pool announced

The Royal Organising Committee for the Gombe Emirate and Chiefdoms Unity Football Competition, popularly known as the Gombe Emir’s Unity Cup 2026, has been inaugurated in Gombe, marking the formal commencement of activities ahead of the tournament.

The committee was inaugurated during its first official meeting, where members were presented with their letters of service. The event was followed by a media briefing attended by representatives of major media organisations in the state.

Speaking at the briefing, Chairman and sponsor of the competition, Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu-Gara Gombe, said the tournament was conceived to promote unity, peaceful coexistence and youth development through football across Gombe State.

According to him, the competition will bring together teams from the emirates and chiefdoms of the state in a format designed to enhance grassroots participation and community bonding.

He explained that the tournament will adopt a hybrid format, with teams grouped into four groups across four centres, subject to the final recommendations of the Technical Committee.

“This competition is about unity, peace and youth empowerment through sports. Football has a way of bringing our communities together, and that is what we are trying to achieve,” Gara Gombe said.

He announced that the tournament will offer substantial financial rewards, with the winner set to receive N5 million and a trophy, while the runner-up and third-place teams will go home with N3 million and N2 million, respectively.

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He added that individual awards will also be presented for outstanding performances, including Best Goalkeeper, Highest Goal Scorer, Most Valuable Player and Fair Play Team.

Gara Gombe further disclosed that a statewide trophy tour, tagged a road show, will commence on Monday, February 2, and run through Friday, February 6, 2026.

He said the tour would cover all the 15 emirates and chiefdoms in Gombe State, beginning from Nafada and Funakaye and moving through Yamaltu, Deba, Waja, Kaltungo, Tangale, Akko, Pindiga, Cham, Dadiya, Tula, Gona and Dukku.

“The trophy tour is part of our strategy to mobilise communities, create awareness and build excitement ahead of the competition,” he said.

SolaceBase reports that the Gombe Emir’s Unity Cup 2026 is organised and sponsored by Green White Green Sports Center Limited with the support and backing of His Royal Highness, the Emir of Gombe.

The competition is expected to further strengthen grassroots football development while fostering unity among communities across the state.

The committee is chaired by Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu-Gara Gombe and has Auwal Musa Umar, a former Chairman of the Gombe State Football Association and former Chairman of Gombe United FC, as Vice Chairman.

The Emir of Gombe is represented on the committee by the Madakin Gombe, Alhaji Umar Abubakar, alongside other members drawn from traditional institutions, sports administrators and officials of Green White Green Sports Center.

Officials of the Secretariat Support Team, including the secretary, public relations and new media officers, are expected to provide administrative, logistics and media support to ensure the smooth execution of the competition.