Rangers International football club of Enugu will trade tackles with Insurance of Benin in this year’s NFF-TINGO Federation Cup men final.
The match is billed to hold at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba today.
The game is bound to bring back memories of when Nigerian club football was at its peak in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
The 1978 final at the main-bowl of the National Stadium in Lagos remains the greatest of all the clashes between both teams. It was one final that football fans can’t wipe away the memories.
Although Rangers got their pound of flesh in 1981, it failed to wipe the agony Flying Antelopes supporters went through three years earlier when the Pride of the Eastern region got decimated 3-0 .
Enugu Rangers is the most successful of the current teams in the Federation Cup with six wins, while Bendel Insurance have won it three times in their history.
However, Bendel Insurance midfielder Divine Nwachukwu has expressed optimism his side will emerge victorious in the Federation Cup final against Rangers today.
Nwachukwu returned to the Benin Arsenals on Monday after his time with the Super Eagles.
The young midfileder said he is in fine shape and ready to help his team achieve victory against the Flying Antelopes.
“I’m back to the squad ready to push again,”
“Bring on Rangers we can’t wait to make ourselves and fans happy again.
“I’m ready to complement my teammates effort in ensuring we snatch victory at the end of the day.”
The finals of the Federations Cup will begin with the Women’s final between Cup holders, Bayelsa Queens and Rivers Angels, which will start by 2.00 p.m., while the men’s final will kick off by 5.00 p.m.
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.