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By: Abiodun Adewale.
Bendel Insurance ended a 43-year wait for a domestic title on Wednesday after beating Enugu Rangers 1-0 to claim the 2023 Federation Cup title as well as a prize of N15m at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba.
A first-half penalty by Osarenkhoe Imade was all that mattered for the Benin Arsenal to claim their fourth Federation Cup title and also picked the last continental ticket to represent Nigeria in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup.
As two of the traditional sides in the country, Insurance and Rangers faced off in the final for the third time in the competition’s history having met in the 1978 and 1981 finals. In their previous two clashes in the final, Insurance won the 1978 edition 3-0, while Rangers avenged the loss with a 2-0 triumph three years later.
While it seemed like the game was heading into the break goalless, a handball in the Rangers box resulted in a penalty for Insurance in stoppage time of the first 45 minutes and Imade made no mistake from the spot to score the only goal of the game and his 10th of the season in all competitions.
Enugu Rangers player, Igwueze Chinemere, was sent off after receiving a second yellow card as a result of the handball which led to the penalty.
Monday Odigie’s side held their nerves against the 10-man Rangers side in the second half and eventually capped a remarkable season with a trophy as well as a CAF Confederation Cup spot, after disappointedly missing out on the available continental tickets in the just concluded Nigeria Professional Football League season.
The Benin Arsenal recorded an unprecedented 21-game unbeaten run in the league but finished fifth in the season-ending Super 6 playoffs.
Their previous three Federation Cup titles were won in 1972, 1978 and 1980.
Before the men’s game, 2021 champions, Bayelsa Queens, retained the women’s crown and their second Federation Cup title after edging rivals Rivers Angels 4-2 on penalties to take home the grand prize of N10m.
After regulation time ended goalless, the game went straight into a shootout with Bayelsa Queens converting four of theirs.
Charity Reuben scored the first kick for the holders and they took advantage of the shootout after a Rivers Angels player skied their second attempt just as Onyinyechukwu Okereke saved another spot kick for Bayelsa Queens.
The penalty shootout win also completed a remarkable run for Bayelsa Queens against Rivers Angels, having beaten them on three previous occasions during the just-concluded Nigeria Women Football League season.