Izuchukwu OkosiBendel Insurance on Wednesday evening defeated Enugu Rangers 1-0 in the final of the 2023 Federation Cup final at the Stephen Keshi stadium, Asaba.
The Federation Cup victory was their first national victory since 1980. It was a fixture that the club’s older generation of supporters will recall was the final of the 1978 and 1981 finals.
Insurance will now represent Nigeria in the CAF Confederation Cup with Rivers United for next season.
Rivers United finished third 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 they set to represent the country in this year’s CAF Confederation Cup.
Despite giving the penalty, the centre referee, Adebimpe Quadry fr Lagos state, awarded a yellow card to the player who already had a yellow card during the game leading to his sending off.
Rangers who came close to scoring a couple of times in the first half 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 they set to represent the country in this year’s CAF Confederation Cup.
The ‘Edo Arsenal’ had an amazing season that saw them lose just twice in 28 games which came in the NPFL Super 6 Playoffs at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan Lagos.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
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