The final opportunity for both Bendel Insurance and Rangers International to pick a continental ticket presents itself today at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba as both teams battle for the oldest trophy in the country, the Federation Cup.
Bendel Insurance and Rangers International clashed in the final of the competition in 1978 and 1981, with a win for each team. But the Benin team will rather remember the 1978 final, which stunned fans that trooped to the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos that afternoon. Insurance’s only win in the competition previously was in 1972, when it needed a replay to defeat Sam Garba Okoye-inspired Mighty Jets to claim the title.
Rangers were the ‘happening team’ of the mid-70s in Nigeria, winning the championship consecutively in 1974, 1975 and 1976 in 1977.
Today in Asaba, Insurance will have the services of midfielder Divine Nwachukwu – one of only two outfield players from the NPFL who were part of the Super Eagles’ qualification for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations with a 3-2 of Sierra Leone in Liberia on Sunday.
In the women’s category, Rivers Angels will confront Bayelsa Queens for the ultimate trophy.
Rivers United emerged victorious in 2018 and the girls from Port Harcourt are riding on confidence from that history and are walking a few inches taller on the Asaba roads.
Bayelsa Queens and Rivers Angels are the teams that have represented Nigeria in the relatively new CAF Women’s Champions League competition, as a measure of their strength.
Governor Sheriff Oborevwori, who is celebrating his diamond jubilee anniversary (60th birthday), is expected at the arena alongside a number of commissioners and heads of parastatals and agencies, to add pomp to the finale of the biggest and oldest football championship in the land.
President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, NFF Board Members, the Executive Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, Chief Tonobok Okowa, NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi and chieftains of TINGO will lead other dignitaries.