The Grand Finale of the 2023 NFF-Tingo Federation Cup Competition scheduled to hold at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba has now been moved to Wednesday, 21 June 2023.
The new date was confirmed in an official statement release on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) official website on Friday, June 9, 2023.
The statement reads, “A couple of issues have come up for us to deal with and we are doing that speedily. The Grand Finale will still take place in Asaba and we are determined to make a showpiece of the event,” NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, said on Friday.
The day will begin with the women’s final, between Cup holders Bayelsa Queens and Rivers Angels, and kick off time is 2pm. While the men’s final, between 1978 champions Bendel Insurance of Benin and Rangers International of Enugu, will kick off at 5pm.
Bayelsa Queens are the defending champions of the competition, having overwhelmed FC Robo Queens of Lagos in the final of the 2021 competition at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
In their last visit to the Stephen Keshi Stadium for the Federation Cup final, Enugu Rangers came from three goals down in the first 45 minutes to draw level and defeat Kano Pillars on penalties in the 2018 men’s Final.
It will be a fierce contest in the men’s final, with Bendel Insurance and Enugu Rangers having contested two of the most memorable finals in the history of the men’s competition.
In what summed up to a brilliant result that year, ‘Benin Arsenal’ defeated the much-feared Enugu Rangers 3-0 in the 1978 final at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. Peter Egharevba scored the first goal through a long range free-kick that silenced the vociferous fans of the ‘Flying Antelopes’.
Three years later, Rangers imposed their revenge, with Christian Chukwu leading the rythm from the back as the all-white clad boys from Coal City won 2-0 with goals from Okwuchukwu Obiora and Ifeanyi Onyedika.
Bendel Insurance have been in flaming form, unbeaten in the abridged Nigeria Premier Football League season and posting credible performances everywhere.
Rangers International were on the backfoot for the larger part of the first half of the season but picked up in the second stanza, and are sure to give their all in the final of a competition in which they love to soar.
