Rangers, Bendel Insurance Light up Asaba with Memories of 1970s

*Bayelsa Queens, Rivers Angels in battle for women’s trophy

Duro Ikhazuagbe 

Two of Nigeria’s traditional teams with strong fan base, Bendel Insurance and Rangers International FC of Enugu will rekindle their rivalry this afternoon in the final of the 2023 Federation Cup slated for the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.  The kick off is 2pm for the women’s final while Rangers and Bendel Insurance will wait till  5pm to know who will keep the former Challenge Cup trophy for the next 12 months.

The game is bound to bring back memories of when Nigerian club football was at its peak in the late 1970s and early 1980s. 

The 1978 final at the main-bowl of the National Stadium in Lagos remains the greatest of all the clashes between both teams. It was one final that football fans can’t wipe away the memories. Although Rangers got their pound of flesh in 1981, it failed to wipe the agony Flying Antelopes supporters went through three years earlier when the Pride of the Eastern region got decimated 3-0 .

Insurance’s only win in the competition previously was in 1972, when they needed a replay to defeat Sam Garba Okoye-inspired Mighty Jets to claim the title in Ibadan.

Rangers were the ‘happening team’ of the mid-70s in Nigeria, winning the oldest and most glamorous football championship consecutively in 1974, 1975 and 1976. In 1977, Rangers International won the Africa Cup Winners Cup. So, it was a team riding on high waves before the 1978 final.

Though they could not defend their title in 1977, losing to IICC Shooting Stars, the ‘Flying Antelopes’ were back in the final in 1978.

Clear favourites to reclaim the trophy, the Coal City giants were poleaxed 3-0, with Peter Egharevba scoring the first goal from a long-range ‘missile’ free-kick. Two more goals by Felix Agbonifo and Henry Ogboe silenced the ‘Enyimba Enyi’song that was the predominant noise from their traveling fans from across the Niger and beyond.

Okechukwu Obiora and Ifeanyi Onyedika, a member of the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations-winning Green Eagles, however redeemed Rangers pride in the 1981 final.

 Even as both teams are no longer in the form they were back then, fans of both teams will be looking forward for a possible re-enactment of memories of the past.

In the women’s section, Bayelsa Queens and Rivers Angels will battle for the trophy at stake.

The last time there was a Federation Cup grand finale, Bayelsa Queens defeated FC Robo Queens of Lagos at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City to emerge champions.

In fact, that day belonged to Bayelsa State. Bayelsa United triumphed in the men’s final against Nasarawa United, winning 4-3 on penalties after the game was locked at 2-2at the end of regulation time. That was in 2021.