Bendel Insurance F.C.

{{short description|Nigerian football club}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Bendel Insurance | image = Bendel_Insurance_F.C._logo.png | upright = 0.9 | fullname = Bendel Insurance Football Club | nickname = Vipers, The Benin Arsenal | founded = {{start date and age|1972}} | ground = [[Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium]]<br />[[Benin City]], Nigeria | capacity = 12,000<ref>{{Cite news| url = https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/04/08/buhari-hails-obasekis-investments-in-sports-revamp-of-ogbemudia-stadium/| title = Buhari Hails Obaseki's Investments in Sports, Revamp of Ogbemudia Stadium| access-date = 8 April 2021| archive-date = 30 January 2023| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230130153225/https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/04/08/buhari-hails-obasekis-investments-in-sports-revamp-of-ogbemudia-stadium/| url-status = live|newspaper=[[This Day]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news| url = https://nigerianobservernews.com/2021/04/obaseki-parades-new-features-of-samuel-ogbemudia-stadium-assures-more-investment-in-sports/| title = Obaseki parades new features of Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, assures more investment in sports| access-date = 10 April 2021| archive-date = 30 January 2023| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230130153222/https://nigerianobservernews.com/2021/04/obaseki-parades-new-features-of-samuel-ogbemudia-stadium-assures-more-investment-in-sports/| url-status = live|newspaper=[[The Nigerian Observer]]}}</ref> | chairman = Emperor Jarret Tenebe Chairman of Bendel Insurance Football Club, Edo State<ref>{{cite web|url = https://bendelinsurancefc.com/emperor-jarret-tenebe-unveiled-as-chairman-bendel-insurance-football-club-amid-pump/|title = Emperor Jarret Tenebe Unveiled as Chairman of Bendel Insurance Football Club|access-date = 8 August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url = https://leadership.ng/pdp-jittery-over-edo-by-election-apc/|title = PDP Jittery Over Edo By-Election – APC|access-date = 8 August 2025|newspaper=[[Leadership (newspaper)|Leadership]]}}</ref> | manager = Greg Ikhenoba <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://newtelegraphonline.com/2017/12/edo-unveils-new-technical-crew-insurance/ |title=Edo unveils new technical crew for Insurance |access-date=26 February 2018 |archive-date=26 September 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926233718/https://newtelegraphonline.com/2017/12/edo-unveils-new-technical-crew-insurance/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> | league = [[Nigeria Premier Football League]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.premiumtimesng.com/sports/football/305002-bendel-insurance-three-other-teams-promoted-to-nigeria-pro-football-league.html|title=Bendel Insurance, three other teams promoted to Nigeria pro football league – Premium Times Nigeria|date=9 January 2019|access-date=11 January 2019|archive-date=11 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190111181533/https://www.premiumtimesng.com/sports/football/305002-bendel-insurance-three-other-teams-promoted-to-nigeria-pro-football-league.html|url-status=live|newspaper=[[Premium Times]]}}</ref> | season = [[2024–25 Nigeria Premier Football League|2024–25]] | position = 5th | pattern_la1 = | pattern_b1 = | pattern_ra1 = | leftarm1 = FFFF00 | body1 = FFFF00 | rightarm1 = FFFF00 | shorts1 = FFFF00 | socks1 = FFFF00 | pattern_la2 = | pattern_b2 = | pattern_ra2 = | leftarm2 = #00FF00 | body2 = #00FF00 | rightarm2 = #00FF00 | shorts2 = #00FF00 | socks2 = #00FF00 }} '''Bendel Insurance Football Club''' is a [[Association football|football]] club based in [[Benin City]], Nigeria. The club plays in the [[Nigeria Premier Football League]]. They were originally known as the Vipers of Benin. They play their home matches at [[Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50476193|title=Nigeria's Edo State to pay women and men teams equally|date=19 November 2019|via=www.bbc.co.uk|access-date=20 November 2019|archive-date=20 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191120123906/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50476193|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldstadiums.com/africa/countries/nigeria.shtml |title=Stadiums in Nigeria |access-date=15 July 2007 |work=World Stadiums |archive-date=18 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418021639/http://www.worldstadiums.com/africa/countries/nigeria.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> which has a capacity of 12,000. They won the 2023 edition of the Federation Cup after defeating Enugu Rangers 1–0 at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba on 21 June 2023.

==History== Created by Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, Bendel Insurance was one of the founding members of the [[Nigerian Premier League]] in 1972.<ref name="vanguard_01_2019">{{Cite news|url=https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/the-return-of-bede-insurance/|location=Lagos, Nigeria|title=The Return of 'Bede' Insurance!|first=Olusegun|last=Odegbami|date=18 January 2019|access-date=16 February 2019|archive-date=17 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190217142304/https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/the-return-of-bede-insurance/|url-status=live|newspaper=[[Vanguard (Nigeria)|Vanguard]]}}</ref>

The team had its first month of the 2007–08 season delayed because of a management dispute over who controlled the team.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.tribune.com.ng/15102007/news/sports5.html|title= Insurance FC crisis started since 1995|access-date= 4 January 2008|work= NIGERIAN TRIBUNE|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080527040430/http://tribune.com.ng/15102007/news/sports5.html|archive-date= 27 May 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= http://tribune.com.ng/25092007/news/sports2.html|title= Osunbor summons Ebewele, Ekhosuehi – Insurance crisis latest|access-date= 4 January 2008|work= NIGERIAN TRIBUNE|archive-date= 15 February 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200215190851/http://tribune.com.ng/25092007/news/sports2.html|url-status= dead}}</ref> The crisis led to two different clubs claiming the name Insurance. They were relegated at the end of the 2007–08 season after finishing in last place, the first relegation from the top level in the team's history.

In August 2008, the ownership crisis was settled and the [[Edo State]] government took control. Thus the name officially reverted to Bendel Insurance Football Club.

However, the club's financial problems continued throughout the season. In February 2009, Insurance was banned from using their stadium temporarily because it was not up to league standards. In March, they were one of eight teams threatened with having their participation suspended due to a backlog of debts and fines.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.compassnews.net/news/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12090:insurance-el-kanemi-others-may-lose-league-slots&catid=41:sports&Itemid=59|title=Compass News – Awaken To A Different World.|website=Compass News – Awaken To A Different World.|access-date=7 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090617085226/http://www.compassnews.net/news/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12090:insurance-el-kanemi-others-may-lose-league-slots&catid=41:sports&Itemid=59|archive-date=17 June 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> Finally, they were exiled to [[Ilorin]], North Central Nigeria, for their final home game of the season after crowd trouble in a 1–1 tie against [[Shooting Stars FC]] that put an end to their promotion chances. The reason for Bendel Insurance's breakdown was because of the ownership situations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://npfl.ng/team/bendel-insurance-f-c/|title=Bendel Insurance F.C.|website=Nigeria Professional Football League|language=en-US|access-date=7 February 2020|archive-date=26 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426220039/https://npfl.ng/team/bendel-insurance-f-c/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Bendel Insurance were promoted to the top flight for the 2019 season after spending over ten years in lower divisions.<ref name="vanguard_01_2019"/> They were relegated to the NNL after just one season. They won promotion back to the NPFL on the penultimate day of the 2022 season.<ref>[https://www.nigfooty.com/2022/07/nnl-bendel-insurance-doma-united-fc.html NNL: Bendel Insurance, Doma United FC Gain Promotion to NPFL]</ref>

==Honours==

===Domestic=== * '''[[Nigeria Premier League]]''' ** '''Winners (2):''' 1973, 1979 * '''[[Nigeria National League]]: 1''' ** '''Winners (1):''' 2022 * '''[[Nigerian FA Cup]]''' ** '''Winners (4):''' 1972, 1978, 1980, [[2023 Nigeria FA Cup|2023]]

===Continental=== * '''[[CAF Cup]]''' ** '''Winners (1):''' 1994

===Regional=== * '''[[West African Club Championship (UFOA Cup)]]''' ** '''Winners (3):''' 1993, 1994, 1995

==Performance in CAF competitions== *'''[[African Cup of Champions Clubs]]: 2 appearances''' ::[[African Cup of Champions Clubs 1974|1974]]: Second Round ::[[African Cup of Champions Clubs 1980|1980]]: Semi-Finals

*'''[[CAF Confederation Cup]]: 1 appearance''' ::[[CAF Confederation Cup 2005|2005]] – Second Round

*'''[[CAF Cup]]: 1 appearance''' ::1994 – '''Champion'''

*'''[[CAF Cup Winners' Cup]]: 2 appearances''' ::[[1979 African Cup Winners' Cup|1979]] – Semi-Finals ::1982 – Second Round

== Management ==

* Head Coach: Greg Ikpenoba * Technical Director: Augustine Iyamu * Team Manager: Peter Obanor * Scouting Director: Idemudia Esigbe <ref>{{Cite news |last=Iyemefokhai |first=Enahoro |date=14 January 2025 |title=Okpebholo unveils new management teams, coaches for Bendel Insurance, Edo Queens |url=https://dailypost.ng/2025/01/14/okpebholo-unveils-new-management-teams-coaches-for-bendel-insurance-edo-queens/ |location=Lagos, Nigeria|access-date=27 January 2025 |newspaper=[[Daily Post (Nigeria)|Daily Post]]|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Notable players==

[[File:PeterOdemwingie.jpg|thumb|right|150px|[[Peter Odemwingie]] scored 19 goals in 53 games for Bendel Insurance FC]]

*{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Peter Odemwingie]] *{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Ambruse Vanzekin]] *{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Julius Aghahowa]] *{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Elderson Echiéjilé]] *{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Olubayo Adefemi]] *{{flagicon|Nigeria}} [[Bright Omokaro]]

==References== <references/>

== External links == * [https://bendelinsurancefc.com/ Official website] * [https://www.flashscore.com.ng/team/bendel/pxviQfX7/results/ Bendel Insurance FC Results] – current results of Bendel Insurance FC matches

[[Category:Bendel Insurance F.C.| ]] [[Category:Association football clubs established in 1972]] [[Category:Football clubs in Nigeria]] [[Category:Benin City]] [[Category:Sport in Edo State]] [[Category:1972 establishments in Nigeria]] [[Category:Financial services football clubs in Nigeria]] [[Category:CAF Cup winning clubs]]