Benin City stood still on Friday as former Bendel Insurance goal machine, the late Mfon Bassey, began his final journey home, honoured with a spirited novelty match and a moving lying-in-state ceremony at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
By 8:00 a.m., the stadium’s main bowl was already buzzing. At the approval of the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Amadin Desmond Enabulele, former Bendel Insurance teammates, coaches, friends, family members and officials of the Edo Football Association gathered to celebrate a striker whose boots once terrorised defences across Nigeria and West Africa.
The much-anticipated novelty match between ex-Bendel Insurance stars and coaches of the Sports Commission ended goalless, but the emotion on the pitch was unmistakable. Icons such as Ovbiye, Peter Obanor, Roland Ewere, John Ufomba, Kareem Shaibu, Owewe and other legends of the Benin Arsenal rolled back the years in honour of their fallen colleague.
Moments later, a solemn motorcade ushered in Bassey’s remains. His wife, Joy Ehigiamusoe, his son Duke, daughters Imahobong and Enohobong, and his siblings led the slow, heartbreaking procession.
Paying tribute, Edo FA Chairman Fred Newton Erhunmwunsee described Bassey as “an elegant, dedicated footballer who delivered victory after victory for the Benin Arsenal.”
“We came together — his colleagues, coaches, and the FA family, to give him the honour he deserves. Mfon was one of the best, and losing him at such a young age is painful,” Erhunmwunsee said, praising Hon. Enabulele for supporting the memorial events.
Former teammate and 90s Bendel Insurance defender Lucky Omorogbe Idahosa (Ovbiye) recalled Bassey as a dependable striker during the club’s golden years, when they won the WAFU Cup thrice and the CAF Cup in 1994.
“Whenever we struggled to score, we turned to Mfon — and he delivered,” Ovbiye said. “He chose Benin as home, even ahead of Ibadan and his native Oron. He will always be remembered.”
For Aituari Igbinedion, CEO of Aidia Sports Club, the loss is deeply personal.
“He was my close friend and one of the main reasons I followed Insurance so passionately. He is the best striker the club ever produced. A true legend.”
Mfon Bassey passed away on November 2, 2025, after a prolonged illness, leaving behind his wife and three children. After the ceremony, his body was taken to his Benin residence for final interment later in the evening.
A striker, a mentor, a legend, Bendel Insurance’s No. 9 takes his final bow.