Bendel Insurance Football Club, also known as Insurance of Benin Football Club or simply Bendel Insurance, is a football club based in Benin City,

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

. The club plays in the

Nigeria Professional football league The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) is the highest level of the Nigerian football league system, for the Nigerian club-football championships. The Nigerian league has suffered, like many others, from the financial impact and dwind ...

. They were originally known as the Vipers of Benin. They play their home matches at

Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium The Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Benin City, Nigeria. Originally known as Ogbe Stadium, it is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Bendel Insurance FC and Edo Queens FC. The stadium has ...

which has a capacity of 12,000.

History

Created by Dr. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia, Bendel Insurance was one of the founding members of the

Nigerian Premier League The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) is the highest level of the Nigerian football league system, for the Nigerian club-football championships. The Nigerian league has suffered, like many others, from the financial impact and dwind ...

in 1972. The team had its first month of the 2007–08 season delayed because of a management dispute over who controlled the team. The crisis led to at one time 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 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. 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 Shooting Stars Sports Club (often nicknamed 3SC or ''Oluyole Warriors'') is a Nigerian football club based in Ibadan. History The club was one of the founders of the Nigerian Premier League in 1972, when they were called ''WNDC Ibadan'' (West ...

that put an end to their promotion chances. The reason for Bendel Insurance's breakdown was because of the ownership situations. Bendel Insurance were promoted back to the top flight for the 2019 season after spending over ten years in lower divisions. They were relegated back to the NNL after one season. They won promotion back to the NPFL on the penultimate day of the 2022 season.NNL: Bendel Insurance, Doma United FC Gain Promotion to NPFL
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Achievements

Nigeria Premier League The Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) is the highest level of the Nigerian football league system, for the Nigerian club-football championships. The Nigerian league has suffered, like many others, from the financial impact and dwind ...

: 2 ::1973, 1979 *

Nigerian FA Cup The AITEO Cup (a.k.a. Challenge Cup, sometimes shortened to Fed Cup), is the main football single-elimination tournament in Nigeria contested by 74 teams, representing the 36 states + 1 FCT of Nigeria. It is the Nigerian domestic cup and the Nig ...

: 3 ::1972, 1978, 1980 *

CAF Cup The CAF Cup was an annual competition organised by the CAF for domestic leagues runners-up of member associations who have not qualified to the pre-existing CAF international club competition the African Cup of Champions Clubs. History The tou ...

: 1 ::1994 *

West African Club Championship (UFOA Cup) The West African Club Championship (UFOA Cup), also known as the General Eyadéma Cup, was a West African Club tournament from 1977 to 1999. It was open to league runners-up in the West Africa (or ''Zone 3'') region of the CAF. While the first mat ...

: 3 ::1993, 1994, 1995

Performance in CAF competitions

* African Cup of Champions Clubs: 2 appearances :: 1974: Second Round :: 1980: Semi-Finals * CAF Confederation Cup: 1 appearance :: 2005 – Second Round *

: 1 appearance ::1994 – Champion * CAF Cup Winners' Cup: 2 appearances ::

1979 Events January * January 1 ** United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim heralds the start of the '' International Year of the Child''. Many musicians donate to the '' Music for UNICEF Concert'' fund, among them ABBA, who write the so ...

– Semi-Finals ::1982 – Second Round

Current team

As of 30 January 2019

Notable players

Peter Odemwingie Peter Osaze Odemwingie (born 15 July 1981) is a retired Nigerian professional footballer who played as a forward and winger. Odemwingie grew up in Uzbekistan and Russia and began his career with Bendel Insurance in the Nigeria Premier League. ...

Ambruse Vanzekin Ambruse Vanzekin (born 14 July 1986) is a former Nigerian football goalkeeper who played primarily for Warri Wolves F.C. He is from Uokha in Owan east local government of Edo State. Career Vanzekin began his career with Plateau United before s ...

Julius Aghahowa Julius Efosa Aghahowa (born 12 February 1982) is a Nigerian former professional association football, footballer who played as a striker (association football), striker. He was known for his pace and his back-flips when he scored goals. Aghahowa ...

* Elderson Echiéjilé * Olubayo Adefemi * Bright Omokaro

References

{{CAF Confederation Cup winners Association football clubs established in 1972 Football clubs in Nigeria Benin City Sport in Edo State 1972 establishments in Nigeria Sports clubs in Nigeria Financial services association football clubs in Nigeria CAF Cup winning clubs