By Victor Okoye
Abuja, Feb. 1, 2026 (NAN) The Royal Organising Committee for the Gombe Emirates and Chiefdoms Unity Football Competition has been inaugurated, signalling the start of preparations for the 2026 tournament.
The event, also known as the Gombe Emir’s Unity Cup 2026, was inaugurated during the committee’s first official meeting in Gombe.
Members of the committee were presented with service letters at the meeting.
The inauguration was followed by a media briefing attended by representatives of major media organisations.
Sponsor of the competition, Ahmed Shuaibu-Gara Gombe, said the tournament aims to promote unity, peaceful coexistence and youth development through sports.
He said participating teams would be grouped into four centres under a hybrid format, subject to the Technical Committee’s recommendations.
Gara Gombe announced prize money of ₦5 million for winners, ₦3 million for runners-up and ₦2 million for third place.
He added that individual awards would include Best Goalkeeper, Highest Goal Scorer, Most Valuable Player and Fair Play Team.
According to him, a statewide trophy tour will hold from Feb. 2 to Feb. 6, covering all 15 emirates and chiefdoms.
He said the tour would begin in Nafada and Funakaye, and proceed through Yamaltu, Deba, Waja, Kaltungo, Tangale and Akko.
Other stops include Pindiga, Cham, Dadiya, Tula, Gona and Dukku emirates and chiefdoms.
The competition is organised and sponsored by Green White Green Sports Center Ltd, with the support of the Emir of Gombe.
The event is expected to strengthen grassroots football and foster unity across communities in Gombe State.
The committee is chaired by Ahmed Shuaibu-Gara Gombe, with Auwal Musa Umar as Vice Chairman.
Other members include traditional rulers’ representatives, sports administrators and officials of Green White Green Sports Center.
The Secretariat team comprises Haruna Abdullahi as Secretary, Muhsin Jibo Maigoro for New Media and Yakubu Maikudi as Public Relations Officer.(NAN)
