Sangana FC of Brass Local Government Area on Tuesday, March 11, 2025, defeated Mini City by 2-1 to become the first team to advance to the Round of 32 in the 2025 edition of the Bayelsa Governor's Football Tournament.
Sangana FC
Playing at the Sangana centre, Kingsley Inuwei of Sangana FC drew first blood in the 42nd minute of play. Buoyed by the lead, they seized the initiative but a very determined Mini City FC restored parity in the 76th minute of play through Owei Igamstar's close range effort.
Igamstar's goal emboldened the Mini City side who mounted ceaseless pressure on Sangana FC but Sangana FC were resilient in defence.
And just when it seemed the encounter was going to drag into the unpredictability of penalities, Sangana FC showed the stuff they are made of as they added another goal to make it 2-1, with the killer goal coming from George Daddy's 87th minute scintillating finish to propel them into the round of 32 of the tournament, which is also known as the Prosperity Cup.
To get to this stage, Sangana FC pipped Williams FC one nil with Sukuwei Isaiah's 86th minute goal. Meanwhile their Round of 64 victims, Mini City, on their part defeated Ogidi X United by a lone goal to set up the tie with the resilient Sangana side.
In other matches decided so far, Nembe City FC, playing at the Nembe Centre, spanked Fantuo FC by two goals to nil to qualify for the next round of the competition, which is believed to be the biggest grassroots football tournament in the country. Goals from Jackson Idubamo and Clement Bruno in each half of the game was all the Nembe side needed to brush aside Fantuo FC.
At the same Nembe Centre, Okoroba FC triumphed over Etie FC by 7-6 on penalities after a 1-1 draw within regulation time. Samuel David put Etie FC ahead in the 57th minute from a long range effort but the Okoroba FC side fought back gallantly to equalise in the 88th minute of play through Benjamin Okatubo who scored from the spot.
In the second match decided at the Sangana Centre on Saturday, March 8, Kamatoru FC defeated Ogidi United 2-0.
Action will move from the Sangana center to Twon Brass on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, where Water Strikers will be hoping to strike when they face New Saints FC at 1.00pm while Location FC will confront Canaan FC by 3.00pm. Kurotee FC are on bye.
On Thursday, at the same centre, Agbor FC will lock horns with Nim Sam FC. The match is scheduled for 1.00pm. At 3.00p.m. it will be Bright Light FC versus Odio FC while Igoni FC welcomes Egweama FC by 3.00pm on Friday.
Sagbama and Ekeremor centres will come alive this weekend when action starts at the two local government areas in the western flank of the state.
