Francis Dufugha
Godswill Ibomo’s 29th-minute strike handed former Aiteo Cup champions, Bayelsa United, a hard-fought 1-0 victory over visiting Abia Comets of Umuahia in their Matchday One encounter of the Southern Conference B of the 2026/2027 Nigeria National League (NNL) season at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa.
The victory marked a positive start to Bayelsa United’s “Operation Return to the NPFL” campaign as the Prosperity Boys secured all three points in front of their home supporters.
Bayelsa United began the encounter on the front foot, dictating the pace and dominating possession in search of an early breakthrough. However, despite creating promising opportunities in the opening 20 minutes, the hosts were unable to find the back of the net, with John Bassey and Okardi Inikurogha both coming close, only to be denied by the visitors’ resolute defence.
The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 29th minute when the impressive young forward, Godswill Ibomo, cut in from the right flank before unleashing a superb left-footed volley that beat Abia Comets goalkeeper, Anyanwu Ugochukwu, to send the home fans into wild celebrations.
Having enjoyed the greater share of possession and attacking opportunities in the first half, Bayelsa United returned from the break to face a more determined Abia Comets side, who mounted pressure on their hosts in search of an equaliser.
However, the Prosperity Boys’ defensive unit remained organised and disciplined, frustrating the visitors’ attacking moves and ensuring that their slender advantage remained intact.
Not entirely satisfied with the scoreline, Technical Adviser Abdul Maikaba introduced Julius Godknows and Godbless Ayeke for Okardi Inikurogha and John Bassey respectively in a bid to inject fresh energy into the attack.
The introduction of Ayeke, who earned promotion from the club’s feeder team to the senior squad, also marked his official debut for the Prosperity Boys. Despite the late attacking adjustments, Abia Comets maintained their defensive discipline to prevent Bayelsa United from extending their lead.
Speaking after the encounter, Technical Adviser of Bayelsa United Abdu Maikaba described the contest as a difficult one but expressed satisfaction with the crucial three points.
“It was a tough game, but the most important thing is that we secured the three points. We created several scoring opportunities that could have given us more goals, but unfortunately, we failed to convert them.
“Although Abia Comets came out stronger in the second half and put us under pressure, I believe we will continue to improve as the league progresses. This is an important victory for us, and we are happy to begin the campaign with a win,” Maikaba stated.
On his part, Abia Comets Head Coach, Ifeanyi Ukaiwe, expressed satisfaction with his team’s overall performance despite the defeat.
“I am pleased with the performance of my players. Although the result did not go our way, the team’s display reflects our ambition and determination for the new season. We will take the positives from this encounter and work towards improving in our subsequent matches,” Ukaiwe remarked.
Also speaking, Bayelsa United captain, Gabriel Biriduba reaffirmed the team’s determination to approach every fixture with a winning mentality, insisting that the opening-day victory had strengthened their belief in achieving their promotion ambition.
“Our target this season is to win every match and give our best in every game. This victory is a good starting point, and it has further boosted our confidence and belief that we can achieve our ambition of returning Bayelsa United to the NPFL at the end of the season,” Biriduba said.
Bayelsa United will next travel to Ekiti to face Dokkal Khairu FC on November 15, 2026, at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium, as the Prosperity Boys seek to build on their winning start and maintain momentum in their quest for an immediate return to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
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