Otu to increase prize money for 2025 Governor’s Cup

The Chairman of Cross River State Football Association, Hon. Essien Ayi, has said Governor Bassey Otu will soon announce an increase in the prize money for the annual Governor’s Cup football competition. The former member of the House of Representatives disclosed this at a press briefing to announce the draws for the competition involving all […]

The Chairman of Cross River State Football Association, Hon. Essien Ayi, has said Governor Bassey Otu will soon announce an increase in the prize money for the annual Governor’s Cup football competition.

The former member of the House of Representatives disclosed this at a press briefing to announce the draws for the competition involving all the 18 LGAs football clubs.

He said the prize money will definitely be more than the previous N2.5m, N2m and N1.5m for the winners, runners-up and third place finishers respectively. 

Ayi, however, frowned at the allegations that his FA misappropriated the funds for previous tournaments, explaining that the release of the money for prizes was delayed by bureaucratic bottlenecks.

He assured that they will work to ensure that there is minimal or no delay in the release of this year’s prize money.

According to him, the 18 amateur clubs were housed in four groups with centres at Ikom, Ogoja, Akpabuyo, and Hope Waddell Training Institute College, where all the matches would be played, with the final at the UJ Esuene Stadium Calabar. 

He, therefore, warned that hooliganism will not be tolerated as offenders would be promptly disqualified.

Also speaking, the first vice-chairman of the FA, Greg Abang, said the association would consolidate on the Governor’s Cup to organise more grassroots tournaments to develop football in the state.

This year’s competition will begin on November 15 and climax on December 25 at the UJ Esuene Stadium Calabar.