Bendel Insurance and Edo Queens FC put up stellar performances today as they took their respective opponents to the cleaners as eighteen goals were recorded in the two finals today, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin.
Bendel Insurance FC of Benin on Wednesday emerged champions of Edo State FA Cup after beating their team B, 3-0 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.
Former Enyimba International midfield maestro, Joseph Osadiaye’s 31st-minute goal and a beautiful header by Echeta Deputy in the 36th minute of the game were enough to put the Benin Arsenal in control of the game as their dominance was well justified by the margin.
Goal machine, Imade Osarenkhoe scored his second goal in two matches with a clinic finish in the second half to put the game totally beyond the young Benin Arsenal and ensure that his team retains the trophy they have been claiming since 2019 without interruption.
Earlier, it was a harvest of goals on Wednesday afternoon at the same venue as Edo Queens FC bathed their local opponents, Brave Hearts Ladies 14:1.
Expectedly, the Obaseki Girls didn’t take long to open the flood gate of goals after Emem Essien scored in the early minutes of the game. Omotoke Odueke added two in the first half with the tournament’s highest goals scorer, Yemisi Samuel adding one.
Edo Queens Players in celebration mood
Chioma Olise also added two goals in the first half before Alani Jumoke registered her name on the scorers’ sheet to close the first half at 7-0
The Queens picked up the second half from where they left the first as the onslaught mode continued.
Though down by twelve goals, the Brave Hearts’ heart wasn’t torn apart as they got a consolation with a beautifully taken volley to beat Udoka Unachukwu who was off her line, in the 61st minute.
Efe Osakpolor was the next to register her name on the scorers’ sheet with a well-executed goal from a promising angle. Yetunde Fajobi also had her chance to score and she made no mistake in doing just that after the hour mark.
It was injury upon injury in the heart of the Brave Hearts Ladies as Alani Jumoke got her second goal of the day in between Deborah Odiagbe’s hattrick, her first in the team’s colour to seal for her team, an emphatic whitewashing of their opponents.
Awards were presented to the outstanding players and teams after the match by functionaries led by the Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu as ably represented by Mrs Sabina Amiemenoghena Chikere. Yemisi Samuel went home with the women’s highest goals scorers award with 5 goals
Precious Okosodo of Brave Hearts despite conceding 14 goals in the final was presented with the best goalkeeper award for her heroic performance in the semi finals of the tournament as Emem Essien scooped the Most Valuable Player.
For the men, the duo of Obaze and Osase’ Osakwe of Alhaji FC won the best goalkeeper award and the highest goals scorer’s award with 4 goals just as Coach Yakubu Ibrahim of Yaks FC was named the best Coach of the tournament.