Ado Salisu
Eight emirate and traditional council football teams have qualified for the quarter-finals of the ongoing Gombe Emir’s Cup Football Competition following the successful conclusion of the preliminary stage held across the three designated centres of Bajoga, Billiri and Deba.
The tournament, organised by the GWG Sports Centre under the leadership of its Chief Executive Officer, Alhaji Ahmed Shuaibu Gara, is aimed at promoting grassroots football, discovering young talents and fostering unity among the diverse ethnic communities in Gombe State through sports.
At the Bajoga Centre, Gombe Emirate Council emerged group winners with seven points after recording two victories and one draw. Tula Traditional Council finished second with six points, while Nafada Emirate Council secured one of the best losers’ slots with four points.
At the Billiri Centre, the Late Shehu Abubakar Team and Funakaye Emirate Council both qualified for the last eight after finishing with seven points each.
In the Deba Centre, Pindiga Emirate Council topped the group with five points after an unbeaten campaign, while Dukku Emirate Council finished second with four points. Dadiya Traditional Council also progressed to the quarter-finals as one of the best losers after recording four points.
The quarter-final fixtures released by the organisers will see Gombe Emirate Council face Funakaye Emirate Council in one of the headline clashes.
Other fixtures will see the Late Shehu Abubakar Team take on Tula Traditional Council, while Pindiga Emirate Council will battle Nafada Emirate Council.
In the remaining quarter-final encounter, Dukku Emirate Council will square off against Dadiya Traditional Council for a place in the semi-finals.
Organisers expressed satisfaction with the standard of competition recorded during the preliminary stage, noting that the tournament has continued to provide a platform for nurturing football talents and strengthening peaceful coexistence among communities across Gombe State.