Excitement reached a fever pitch at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium on Tuesday as the Deputy Chief Whip of the Senate and Senator representing Ebonyi North Senatorial District, Distinguished Senator Peter Onyekachi Nwebonyi, announced a staggering increase in the prize money of the Ohamadike Super Cup from ₦10 million to ₦50 million ahead of the 2026 season.
The blockbuster announcement came moments after an electrifying grand finale of the 2025 Ohamadike Super Cup, where Ohaukwu Local Government Area Football Club edged past Izzi LGA FC 1–0 on penalties after regulation time ended in a tense stalemate.
Roared on by a mammoth crowd, the final delivered drama, grit, and passion, with both sides displaying resilience before Ohaukwu LGA FC held their nerve in the decisive shootout to lift the coveted trophy. Abakaliki LGA FC claimed third place in the fiercely contested tournament.
For their triumph, Ohaukwu LGA FC walked away with ₦5 million, while Izzi LGA FC received ₦3 million and Abakaliki LGA FC earned ₦2 million, bringing the total prize purse for the 2025 edition to ₦10 million.
Addressing journalists after the final whistle, Senator Nwebonyi said the unprecedented increase in prize money was aimed at deepening grassroots football development, discovering hidden talents, and positioning Ebonyi State as a rising force in Nigerian football.
Speaking at the event, the Ebonyi State Commissioner for Youths and Sports, Hon. Richard Idike, hailed Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for his heavy investment in sports infrastructure and youth empowerment, noting that Senator Nwebonyi’s intervention has further strengthened the administration’s sports revolution. He praised the players for their discipline and competitive spirit, assuring that outstanding performers would be drafted into the state football team. According to him, football has evolved into a powerful business and a unifying force across communities.
In separate remarks, former Minister of Power and Energy, Chief Goddy Ogbaga; Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee and Coordinator of Ominyi DC, Hon. Chidi Ogbonna; and National Coordinator of the Ohamadike Progressive Movement, Hon. Friday Nwigube, commended Senator Nwebonyi for delivering impactful representation at the National Assembly. They described the tournament as a model for grassroots sports development and urged players to embrace sportsmanship, humility in victory, and courage in defeat.
The football fiesta drew an overwhelming crowd of dignitaries and fans, including federal and state lawmakers, members of the State Executive Council, business leaders, traditional and religious rulers, academics, support groups, and passionate football lovers, turning the stadium into a carnival of colour, chants, and celebration.
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