Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin were crowned Champions of the 2023 Federation’s Cup after a 1-0 victory over arch rivals, Rangers International of Enugu.
The Benin Arsenals’ top striker, Imade Osarenkhoe scored the only goal of the final match played at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Delta State on Wednesday, June 21, 2023.
Imade scored from the spot following a deserved penalty kick awarded Insurance against Rangers’ Ugwueze Chinemerem whose hand stopped a goal-bound Insurance shot from Sodje Stephens in the 45th minute of play.
Rangers’ Ugwueze Chinemerem was subsequently sent off by the center referee with a second yellow card. The midfielder earlier picked up a first yellow card for petulance.
Bendel Insurance have a winning record in the Nigeria FA Cup for the fourth time after the Asaba triumph over six times champions, Rangers and will be playing in the CAF Confederations Cup going forward.
The General Coordinator of the Benin Arsenals, Sabina Chikere, described Insurance’s success this season as remarkable, adding that the FA Cup victory and the Continental ticket are rewards for hard work.
Chikere ascribed the club’s successful outing to God and the Edo State Government. She also specially commended the Chairman of the club and the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu, who was present to watch the entire game and celebrated with his team in Asaba.
Notably, Insurance FC broke Akwa Utd 18-match unbeaten record and set 21 games unbeaten run until the Super Six playoffs in Lagos where they suffered a 2-1 defeat to Rivers Utd on Match-Day-4 and a 1-0 loss to Remo Stars on the last day of the season. Qudus Akanni scored the only goal of the match for Remo Stars to earn his side the CAF Champions League ticket, ahead of Rivers Utd.
Insurance came from the nation’s second-tier league NNL as Champions and dominated the Group A of the abridged NPFL, finishing the regular season with 34 points ahead of Enyimba FC that eventually emerged League Champions at the Super Six playoffs in Lagos.
On the road to the 2023 Federation Cup final, Insurance FC defeated ABS of Ilorin1-0; Ahudiya FC of Abia 1-0; Heartland FC of Owerri 1-0, and Sunshine Stars with the same 1-0 goal margin before their 3-2 penalty shootout victory over Warri Wolves after a goalless draw in the semi -finals in Lagos.
The Benin Arsenals also won the FA Cup in 1972, 1978 and 1980. They defeated Rangers 3-0 in the 1978 finals but Rangers retaliated in the 1981 edition, handing Insurance FC a 2-0 defeat.
Bendel Insurance FC’s last appearance in the FA Cup finals was in 2006 against Dolphins of PortHarcourt and they lost 4-2 in a penalty shootout to the Rivers team.
Meanwhile, Coach Monday Odigie has made history with Bendel Insurance, having led the team from the wilderness of Nigeria’s Second-Tier League, lifting the NNL Cup last year to NPFL Super Six and now FA Cup Champions, as well as securing a slot for the Continental 2022/2023 CAF Confederation Cup ticket to represent Nigeria.
