By Rasaq Oboirien
Bendel Insurance on Wednesday capped their impressive season with their 4th FA Cup after 43 years, as they pipped traditional rivals Rangers International of Enugu by a lone goal to lift the 2023 edition of the NFF/Tingo Federation Cup at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Delta State.
It was a repeat of the 1978 finals, as the Benin Arsenals got the better of a 10-man Flying Antelopes with Imade Osarenkhoe scoring in the 45th minute from the penalty spot.
Rangers were reduced to a man down, after Chinemerem Ugwueze got his second booking for a deliberate handball inside the box as he tried to foul ref Quadri Adebimpe by stopping a goal bound effort.
The Lagos State match official not needing any help from his assistant, dished out a yellow card and thereafter a red. Osarenkhoe, then stood behind the ball, caught his breath, exhaled and converted the spot kick, sending Detan Ogundare the wrong way to give Insurance the lead.
Five minutes later, Rangers pressured Insurance and nearly got an equalizing goal as a reward for their effort, but goalkeeper Amas Obasogie came to the rescue of the Benin Arsenals.
Deputy Echeta could had given Insurance a two goal cushion with a close-range effort, but Ogundare put up a great save to deny him to keep his team in the game.
With the clock running down to 90th minutes, Rangers couldn’t level the scoreline with the four minutes of added-time, thus leaving Insurance to claim the second ticket to represent Nigeria in the CAF Confederation Cup next season.