Bendel Insurance needed penalty shoot-out to overcome Warri Wolves in the semi-final of the 2023 Federation Cup that took place in Lagos on Thursday.
Both teams could not break the deadlock at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in 90 minutes but Bendel Insurance came out victorious with a 3-2 win in the shoot-out.
Warri Wolves had the best chance in the opening 45 minutes as a header rattled the crossbar and they did a brilliant defensive job to keep Insurance’s attack at bay.
Bendel Insurance talisman Imade Osarenkhoe struggled to make an impact in the first half with no shot on target and he was replaced at half-time.
The Edo State-based club restarted the game on a brighter note but they lacked the finishing touch to bury the game when it mattered.
In the shoot-out, Warri Wolves lost their first two attempts and the last strike by their goalkeeper while Bendel Insurance scored all but one of their attempts to seal a 4-2 victory.
Meanwhile, Enugu Rangers scored a late goal in stoppage-time to beat Plateau United 1-0 at the Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode.
Bendel Insurance and Enugu Rangers will now face off in this year’s Federation Cup final, a repeat of 1978 and 1981 FA Cup finals.
Rangers’ most recent Cup success was in 2018 while Insurance last lifted the Federation Cup in 1980.
