Two iconic teams, Enugu Rangers and Bendel Insurance, will go head-to-head in the highly anticipated Federation Cup final, showcasing their status as pioneers of Nigerian club football.
Alongside Shooting Stars of Ibadan, these teams have endured the test of time, outlasting their counterparts such as Racca Rovers, Calabar Rovers, Mighty Jets, Housing of Akure, Stationery Stores, ACB, NEPA of Lagos, Railways FC, Sharks of Port Harcourt, and Ranchers Bees.
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Enugu Rangers, with six Federation Cup titles to their name, stand as the most successful team in the competition among the current participants, while Bendel Insurance have claimed the prestigious trophy three times.
Their rivalry is etched in history, highlighted by a memorable clash in 1978 when Bendel Insurance defied all odds to defeat Enugu Rangers 3-0. However, Rangers exacted revenge in 1981 with a 2-0 victory over Insurance in Lagos.
Though both teams once reigned among the top five clubs in the country, their fortunes have changed over the years. Enugu Rangers narrowly avoided relegation in the 2022/23 Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) season, while Bendel Insurance finished as the fifth-best team in the NPFL Championship Play-off.
With their hopes of continental qualification resting on the Federation Cup, Bendel Insurance has been diligently preparing for the final. Officials from the Edo State government, the team’s sponsors, led by Deputy Governor Comrade Philip Shaibu, have already relocated to Asaba to provide support and motivation to the Benin-based club.
A source within the Edo State government expressed dissatisfaction with Insurance’s performance in the NPFL Play-off and emphasized the importance of winning the final to secure qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup.
Enugu State government is also leaving no stone unturned in its support for Rangers, urging the team to reclaim the competition they last won in 2018. Just before the Flying Antelopes departed for Asaba, the Permanent Secretary in the state’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, Krist Mbah, conveyed Governor Peter Mbah’s message of goodwill and the desire for the team to emerge victorious.
As the stage is set for the final in Asaba, the Delta State Football Association (DFA) assures that the Stephen Keshi Stadium is ready for the prestigious event. DFA Chairman Ken Nwamuocha confirms that all necessary logistics have been arranged for a successful hosting, with plans for a grand 2023 final discussed in a productive meeting with officials from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
To enhance the atmosphere, side attractions will accompany the finals, and gates will be open to encourage a large turnout of passionate fans who will cheer on their respective teams. The action-packed day will commence with the Women’s final between Bayelsa Queens and Rivers Angels, followed by the much-anticipated men’s final later in the evening.
Football enthusiasts eagerly anticipate witnessing this clash of titans as Enugu Rangers and Bendel Insurance vie for glory in the Federation Cup final, aiming to etch their names in Nigerian football history once again.
