Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin has been crowned champions of the 2023 FA Cup after a 1-0 victory over traditional rivals Rangers International of Enugu.
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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. Imade scored from the spot following a deserved penalty kick awarded them against Rangers’ Ugwueze Chinemerem whose hand stopped an Insurance goal-bound 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 his first yellow card for petulance.
Bendel Insurance has now won the Nigeria 2023 FA Cup for the fourth time after the Asaba triumph over six times champions Rangers and will be playing in the CAF Confederations Cup.
Speaking, the General Coordinator of the Benin Arsenals Sabina Chikere described Insurance’s success this season as remarkable, adding that the FA Cup victory and continental ticket are a reward for hard work.
She ascribed the club’s successful outing to God and the Edo state government. She also specially commended the chairman of the club and Deputy Governor of Edo state Rt Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu who watched the entire game and celebrated with his team in Asaba.
Insurance came from the nation’s second-tier league NNL as champions and dominated group A of the abridged NPFL, finishing the regular season with 34 points ahead of Enyimba FC who eventually emerged league champions at the super six playoffs in Lagos.
On the road to the 2023 FA 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 Semifinals 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 revenged 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 the Dolphins of PortHarcourt which lost 4-2 in a 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.
