Bendel Insurance Beat Rangers Again to Lift Federation Cup 

*Bayelsa Queens retain trophy after shoutouts with Rivers Angels  

Duro Ikhazuagbe

Bendel Insurance’s 28 years of trophy drought ended yesterday as the Benin Arsenal defeated old rivals, Rangers International FC of Enugu 1-0 in a pulsating final of this year’s Federation Cup at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba. 

 It was a fitting reward for their hard work this season, ending the abridged NPFL unbeaten in 18 matches before the Super 6 playoffs.

The victory also gives the Insurance ticket to represent Nigeria in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup competition.

Unlike what happened 45 years ago when Bendel Insurance defeated Rangers  3-0 at the National Stadium in Lagos to lift the former Challenge Cup trophy, it was a marginal lone goal scored from the spot yesterday.

The win was relief for the Benin City team who had a brilliant unbeaten run in the abridged league only to fall flat in the Super 6 playoffs. 

Imade Osarenkhoe scored the only goal of the game from the spot for Insurance after Rangers star, Chinemerem Ugwueze, was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box. 

Despite giving the penalty, the centre referee for the day, Adebimpe Quadry, also awarded a yellow card to the player who already had a yellow card during the game leading to his sending off. 

Rangers returned for the second half and had so many opportunities to restore parity despite playing with a man down. 

The game however ended in Insurance favour as the players and their fans danced to celebrate their return to the continent to represent the country in this year’s CAF Confederation Cup. The last time they played in the continent was in 1994 when they won the then newly introduced CAF Cup and won it.

In the women’s section, Bayelsa Queens retained their Federation Cup trophy they won two years ago (there was no final played last year) as they defeated Rivers United 4-2 on penalties after the regulation time ended goalless.