Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin delivered a commanding performance on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, defeating Adamawa United 3-0 in the Round of 32 of the 2025 President Federation Cup.
The match, held at Lafia City Stadium, saw the Benin Arsenals advance to the Round of 16, thanks to a stellar hat trick from forward Kayode Oke Solomon.
Kayode proved to be the standout star for Insurance FC, single-handedly dismantling Adamawa United’s defense. He opened the scoring in the 25th minute and added a second goal in the 38th, giving his team a comfortable lead heading into halftime. The dynamic striker completed his hat trick in the 87th minute, securing a resounding victory and marking his first three-goal haul for the club.
This latest triumph follows Bendel Insurance’s equally impressive 5-0 thrashing of NLO side Dandidi Babes FC of Jigawa State in the Round of 64 last month, also at Lafia City Stadium. That game saw captain Meyiwa Oritseweyinmi score twice, alongside goals from Uche Collins, Michael Enaruna, and Chinedu Onyejekwe, underscoring the team’s attacking prowess.
The 2023 Federation Cup champions now turn their attention back to Benin as they prepare for an upcoming NPFL Match Day 32 clash against Rangers International of Enugu, scheduled for Saturday, April 5, 2025. Meanwhile, they await the draw for their next Federation Cup opponent in the Round of 16.
Speaking after the match, head coach Greg Ikhenoba praised Kayode’s performance, calling him a “developing super striker” and congratulating him on his milestone hat trick. “I’m impressed with Kayode and the team today,” Ikhenoba said in a post-match interview. However, he tempered the excitement by noting that the squad remains a “work in progress,” despite their convincing victories in this year’s competition.
Bendel Insurance will now face Enugu Rangers in the next round of the competition.