Foremost Nigerian professional football clubs, Enugu Rangers and Bendel Insurance yesterday qualified for the finals of this year’s Federation Cup after semi-final victories over Plateau United and Warri Wolves respectively in Ijebu-Ode and Lagos.
At the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos, in-form team and NPFL giants, Bendel Insurance dug deep to overpower hard-fighting Nigeria National League (NNL) side, Warri Wolves 2-4 on penalties after the stalemate in regulation time.
In the other semi-final match decided at the Otunba Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode, Rangers International, who won the Africa Cup Winners’ Cup in 1977 after a string of FA Cup (former name of Federation Cup) triumphed 1-0 over 1999 champions Plateau United.
To reach the last four, Rangers International pipped giant-killers Doma United 1-0 at the Akure Township Stadium in their own quarter-final, while Plateau United turned back hopeful Kwara United by the same margin in Abuja.
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On their part, Bendel Insurance edged out fellow NPFL side, Sunshine Stars of Akure 1-0 at the Awka Township Stadium while Warri Wolves stunned NPFL giants, Lobi Stars 2-1 in Ijebu-Ode.
Therefore, this year’s finals will be contested by former winners of the oldest club competition in the country who are among the oldest clubs in Nigerian football.
While the more illustrious Enugu Rangers have won six FA Cup titles (1974, 1975, 1976, 1981, 1983 and 2018), Insurance also boast of three titles which they won in 1972, 1978 and 1980.
So, while Rangers will be fighting for their seventh FA Cup trophy, their arch-rivals Bendel Insurance will be gunning for the fourth since they last emerged victorious in 1980.
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