Having started the season on a strong note with an impressive 18-match unbeaten run in the 2022/23 abridged Nigeria Premier League, Bendel Insurance faced a setback at the Championship Super 6 playoffs, finishing fifth with two defeats and three draws.
However, the team's aspirations of ending the season with silverware and securing a place in continental competition hinged on the FA Cup final. In a tightly contested match, Imade Osarenkhoe's first-half goal from a penalty kick sealed the victory for the Edo state-owned club.
This triumph marks Bendel Insurance's fourth Federation Cup title in the history of the club and their first since 1980. As a reward for their achievement, Insurance will receive a cash prize of 15 million Naira and secure a spot as Nigeria's second representative in the upcoming CAF Confederation Cup.
In the women's division's final, Bayelsa United emerged victorious in a penalty shootout against former champions Rivers Angels. The match ended in a goalless draw during regulation time, leading to a thrilling penalty shootout. Bayelsa Queens converted all but one of their kicks, securing a 4-2 win in the shootout and claiming the Nigerian Federation Cup for the fifth time in the club's history.