By: Chinedum Ohanusi
The Royal Organizing Committee (ROC) for the inaugural edition Gombe Emirates and Chiefdoms Unity Football Competition, which is also to be known as the Gombe Emir’s Cup 2026, has been formally inaugurated.
The inauguration, also marked the official commencement of activities ahead of the highly anticipated grassroots football tournament, a brainchild of Alhaji Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe.
The inauguration of the ROC, also provided the avenue for the committee’s first official meeting, where members received their letters of appointments, and briefs. Thereafter, there was a media briefing attended by representatives of major media organisations, including the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Gombe Media Corporation Television (GMC TV), Amana Radio, Progress Radio, the Punch Newspaper, and other outlets.
The committee (ROC) is chaired by Ahmed Shuaibu-Gara Gombe, the Sponsor of the competition and Chief Executive Officer of Green White Green Sports Center Limited.
Alhaji Gara Gombe will be supported by a former Chairman of the Gombe State Football Association and former Chairman of Gombe United FC,
Auwal Musa Umar,
who will serves as Vice Chairmanof the ROC.
Other members of the committee include Alhaji Umar Abubakar, the Madakin Gombe and representative of His Royal Highness, the Emir of Gombe; Abdulkadir Adamu (Kawu); Mallam Dahiru Mohammed Umar (Danlawan Kaltungo); Muhammad Magaji Ibrahim (Santurakin Babba of Pindiga); and the District Head of Kolmani, Mallam Mai Umar (Yarin Gombe).
Others are Bilya Yaro Dawakin-Tofa (Sarkin Samarin Gona), Mallam Hashimu Ibrahim, Comrade Abdulaziz Sani Labaran; Haruna Isah Kalshingi, the Director of Organization and Executive Management Assistant at Green White Green Sports Center Limited.
The ROC, shall also have an ICT compliant team, as Secretariat Support staff, who shall man a functional Secretariat, that is already in place; whilst Haruna Abdullahi shall serve as Secretary, Muhsin Jibo Maigoro will be in charge of New Media, Yakubu Maikudi mans the Public Relations desk, Muhammad Musa Baba will function as Personal Assistant to the Chairman, and Abubakar Shuaibu-Gara, will provide additional logistics support.
Speaking at the media briefing, the Chairman, Ahmed Shuaibu-Gara Gombe, said the idea of floating the competition stemmed from the joy he derived, seeing many youths troop to the Emir Palace on each match day, during the just concluded 2025 Afon in Morocco, to watch games on big screens.
“It is designed to help promote friendship, forge unity, enhance peaceful coexistence, and spark youth development through sports, across the emirates and chiefdoms of Gombe State” he said.
On the format of the tournament, he said the participating teams will be divided into four groups, to be stationed in four centres, as may be worked out by the ROC as advised by the Technical Committee.
Attractive financial rewards shall be doled out to outstanding teams, with the winner getting a whopping ₦5 million plus a giant trophy, the beaten finalist will be rewarded with ₦3 million, and the winner of the bronze medal match, will take home ₦2 million. “In addition to these, there will be individual awards for the Best Goalkeeper, Highest Goal Scorer, Most Valuable Player, and Fair Play Team, alongside trophies”.
Prior to the kick-off, a statewide trophy tour which commenced on Monday, February 2, 2026, and runs through Friday, February 6, 2026 (today), will cover all 15 emirates and chiefdoms in the state, beginning with Nafada and Funakaye Emirates, and continuing through Yamaltu, Deba, Waja, Kaltungo, Tangale, Akko, Pindiga, Cham, Dadiya, Tula, Gona, and Dukku.
The Gombe Emir’s Cup 2026 is fully endorsed by the Emir of Gombe, His Royal Highness, Abubakar Shehu-Abubakar; and the competition is expected to redefine grassroots football development in the entire Northeastern region.
