By Adeola Badru

The One Nigeria Cup grassroots initiative saw “the eleven” emerge winners last week in a football competition sponsored by the NGO across the six geo-political zones of the country.

The team was made up of Gombe United star players, Sanni Suleiman, Salisu Shuaibu and members of the Nigeria U-15 National team.

According to a statement made available to Vanguard on Thursday by the NGO, the competition was keenly contested and it was a captivating moment at the Braverock recreational park where a total of ten teams played in a round robin format.

The representatives of One Nigeria Cup later paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Gombe Alhaji Abubakar Shehu Abubakar III to further shed more lights on the maiden sports event and football competition aimed at bringing together Nigerians in one unifying agenda ahead of the pre-/post-elections period.

The Emir of Gombe applauded the group for taken such noble steps and appreciated the initiative being hosted in Gombe State representing the North East region.

The traditional ruler then officially endorsed the One Nigeria Cup, which he mentioned will create special awareness in peace advocacy, continued democracy and unity in Nigeria at all times.

The One Nigeria Cup group flagged-off its activities for the competition on Thursday December 15, 2022 in Abuja, and later moved to Jos, Plateau State on December 17 and 18, 2022 before arriving Gombe on December 26 and 27, 2022.

The six weeks long chain of activities across the 6 geo-political zones will continue on January 2 and 3 at the Sanni Abacha stadium, Kano and will them reach climax in Lagos on Sunday January 22 2023.

The coalition’s strong desire is to see the nation remain united in spite of her diversity and political allegiance in February 2023 election and beyond with the hope of using football.