Bayelsa Starlets Football Academy, affiliated to FC Barcelona of Spain,will battle 13 teams across the South South region in the Yenagoa centre in the Nationwide League One.
Key Highlights
- Bayelsa Starlets join Nationwide League One.
- Starlets will compete at Yenagoa centre.
- 14 teams will battle in the centre.
- Teams represent five South South states.
- NLO season begins August 15, 2026.
The Starlets who took part in the just concluded Bayelsa United/Prosperity Cup pre-season tournament have played friendly matches ahead of the NLO Season.
According to a release by the league body, five Yenagoa-based sides will go head to head with each other in the Yenagoa centre with the rest of the teams coming from Rivers, Delta, Edo and Akwa Ibom States.
The five Bayelsa-based sides are 2026 Prosperity Cup semi finalists, Mountain of the Lord Deliverance Ministry (MLDM FC), Bayelsa United Feeders, AJ Inter Soccer FA , Bayelsa Football Academy and Bayelsa Starlets Academy.
Other participating teams in the centre include, Winsome Feeders FC of Delta, Benedi United FC of Rivers, Dolphin ACA FC Rivers, Impact YWAM FC, Rivers Obago FC of Rivers, Iwere FC Delta, Junosa FC Edo State and Uchenna Kanu Football Academy of Akwa-Ibom State.
The Nationwide League One will commence on Saturday, August 15, 2026 at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa.
Reacting to the development, Deputy Director General of the Prosperity Cup, Mr. Perela Aboro remarked that the competition would provide another platform for the players to showcase their potentials.
Aboro, who noted that the Natiowide League One continues to be a key component of Nigeria’s football calendar, serving as a pathway to domestic leagues, national teams, and European opportunities, expressed confidence that the players would give all the teams in the group a run for their money due to the team’s level of preparation.
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Mr. Aboro asserted that the league has become more attractive to high-net-worth individuals and businesses seeking prestige, maintaining that the league has become a launchpad for the development of players.
”I am happy that the NLO will be starting on the 15th of August, 2026. As you are aware, the NLO is a league that provides opportunity to give young players the platform for greatness” he stated
”For Bayelsa Starlets, I am confident that the lads will put up a very good display because the team is blessed with an abundance of talents and experienced technical adviser, Edema Fuludu,” Aboro added.
