Bendel Insurance and Enugu Rangers of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) have qualified for the 2023 Federation Cup final after winning their respective semi-final matches on Thursday, June 1.
Enugu Rangers, a six-time NPFL champion, advanced to the Federation Cup final by defeating Plateau United, another former NPFL champion, 1-0 in Ijebu Ode.
To avoid a straight penalty shootout, Enugu Rangers’ Godwin Obaje, a former NPFL leading scorer, scored the game’s lone goal in extra time.
In the other semi-final in Lagos, third-time champions Bendel Insurance defeated second-tier team Warri Wolves 3-2 on penalties after regulation time ended without a goal.
After captain Benjamin Tanimu’s fourth penalty kick failed to secure the victory, goaltender Amas Obasogie emerged as the team’s hero by saving Warri Wolves’ fifth penalty attempt.
Bendel Insurance and Enugu Rangers have previously competed in the Federation Cup final. Enugu Rangers, also known as the Flying Antelopes, won the title with a 2-0 score in 1981, while Edo State-owned Bendel Insurance won with a 3-0 score in 1978.
At the time of writing, the Nigeria Football Federation, the competition’s organizers, had yet to announce the date and location of the Federation Cup final.