Imade Osehenkhoe scored the only goal from the spot to help Bendel Insurance to a 1-0 victory over Rangers to win the 2023 Nigeria Federation Cup, Sportivationng.com reports.
The Monday Odigie-led side were awarded a penalty late in the first half after Chinerem Ugbwueze handled the ball inside box.
The win handed Insurance their first Federation Cup trophy in 43 years and also a place in the CAF Confederation Cup next season.
The ‘Flying Antelopes’ threw in all they could muster in an interesting encounter at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba on Wednesday, but the ‘Benin Arsenal’ were determined to get something out of a season in which they remained unbeaten in the Nigeria Premier Football League regular season only to end up empty-handed in the Playoff Championship.
Insurance had come close in the 16th minute when Deputy Echeta hit the ball hard and goalkeeper Detan Ogundare spilled the shot, only for the rebound to be diverted.
A minute into the restart, Rangers’ Shedrack Asiegbu let fly from the left side, but the effort went over the bar.
In the 55th minute, Insurance goalkeeper Amos Obasogie spilled a shot from Rangers’ Godwin Obaje but there was no follow-up, and in the 70th minute, Osarenkhoe’s intelligent chip from a free-kick was tipped over the sticks by Ogundare.
Bendel Insurance went home with the sum of 15 million naira, while Rangers International got the sum of Seven Million and Five Hundred Thousand Naira Only.
