Bendel Insurance pipped Rangers International 1-0 to win its fourth Federation Cup title at Stepeh Keshi Stadiun, Asaba, Delta State.
Imade Osarenkhoe’s strike from six yards on the dot of half time, after handball in the box by Rangers’ defender Chinemerem Ugwueze, handed Bendel Insurance this year’s NFF-TINGO Federation Cup title and a ticket to represent Nigeria in next season’s CAF Confederation Cup competition.
The ‘Flying Antelopes’ threw in all they could muster in an interesting encounter at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba on Wednesday, but the ‘Benin Arsenal’ were determined to hew something out of a see-saw season in which they remained unbeaten in the Nigeria Premier Football League regular season only to end up empty-handed in the Playoff Championship.
Insurance had come close in the 16th minute when Deputy Echeta hit the ball hard and goalkeeper Detan Ogundare spilled the shot, only for the rebound to be diverted.
A minute into the restart, Rangers’ Shedrack Asiegbu let fly from the left side, but the effort went over the bar. In the 55th minute, Insurance goalkeeper Amos Obasogie spilled a shot from Rangers’ Godwin Obaje but there was no follow-up, and in the 70th minute, Osarenkhoe’s intelligent chip from a free-kick was tipped over the sticks by Ogundare.
Insurance will represent Nigeria at the 2023/2024 CAF Confederations Cup alongside the third placed team at the end of the 2022/2023 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Rivers United.