Former champions Rangers International of Enugu sealed a place in the quarter-finals of the 2025 President Federation Cup with a narrow 1-0 win over Bendel Insurance in Lagos on Wednesday, Footynaija.com reports.
In a repeat of the 2023 final which Insurance won, the high-stakes encounter between two Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) sides was played at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena and proved a cagey affair.
FACup25 RD⚽ 16: It is match day in Lagos. The land of Lagos be kind to us as we go into battle with Rangers Int’l.
⚽ Bendel Insurance FC v Rangers Int’l
President Federation Cup
️ Onikan Stadium,Lagos
Date: Wednesday, April 16,,2025.
Time: 4:00PM
⚽#FACup25
Adaa… Bendel pic.twitter.com/szDj1EQnW8— Bendel Insurance FC (@insurance_fc) April 16, 2025
The decisive moment came in first-half stoppage time, when Godwin Obaje converted from the penalty spot to hand Rangers the edge in a tightly contested encounter.
Godwin Obaje scores for Rangers from the spot against Bendel Insurance & he did the SIUUUUUU celebration with his teammates pic.twitter.com/CeY1TIAWY6
— POOJA!!! (@PoojaMedia) April 16, 2025
Ikorodu City joined Rangers in the last eight with a 2-0 win over second-tier Beyond Limits at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin. Goals from Austin Harrison and Shola Adelani in the second half sealed a historic quarter-final berth for the Lagos-based club.
The biggest upset of the round came in Asaba, where two-time African champions Enyimba were stunned 2-0 by Abakaliki FC, a second-division outfit, crashing out in shocking fashion.
Nasarawa United and Bayelsa United played out a 1-1 draw in Anyigba before the Solid Miners held their nerve to win 5-3 on penalties.
In the same venue, Plateau United edged Osun United 2-1, thanks to goals from Sam Pam and Daniel Itodo.
Wikki Tourists also required penalties to beat Warri Wolves 4-3 after a 1-1 draw in regulation time, while Kwara United comfortably dispatched Solution FC 3-0 in Benin with goals from Junior Aimufua, Kabir Muhammad, and Ismaila Gata.
In Abuja, 2017 champions Akwa United booked their spot in the quarter-finals with a 1-0 win over Inter Lagos, with Chisom Orji scoring the lone goal.
The quarter-final fixtures are scheduled to take place later this month.
PRESIDENT FEDERATION CUP R 16 RESULTS.
– Enyimba eliminated by Abakaliki FC
– Rangers triumphed over Bendel Insurance
– Ikorodu City eased past Beyond Limits pic.twitter.com/z1tiS0bUNA— CenterKick (@Centerkick_) April 16, 2025
2025 President Federation Cup Round of 16 Results
Enyimba FC 0-2 Abakaliki FC
Nasarawa United 1-1 Bayelsa United (PK: 5-3)
Warri Wolves 1-1 Wikki Tourists (PK: 3-4)
Ikorodu City 2-0 Beyond Limits
Akwa United 1-0 Inter Lagos
Solution FC 0-3 Kwara United
Plateau United 2-1 Osun United
Bendel Insurance 0-1 Rangers Int’l
Quarter Final Fixtures
Abakaliki FC (Ebonyi) vs Nasarawa United (Nasarawa)
Wikki Tourist (Bauchi) Vs Ikorodu City (Lagos)
Akwa United (Akwa Ibom) Vs Kwara United (Kwara)
Plateau United (Plateau) Vs Rangers Int’l (Enugu)