NNL: Bendel Insurance Hit Ibom Youth 3-1 to Maintain Lead of Group B1

Adibe Emenyonuin Benin City

Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin City at the weekend maintained their leadership of the Group B1 of the Nigerian National League (NNL) after defeating Ibom Youths 3-1 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Benin City.

With the victory, Insurance  now have eight points after four games, with two home wins and two away draws.

Meyiwa Oritseweyinmi gave Insurance an early lead in the fourth minute after a brilliant dribble into the 18 yard box and found the right corner of the net.

Ibom Youth equalised within 25th minute through Gift Henshaw, before Benjamin Tanimu converted a penalty in the 39th minute after an Ibom Youth player stopped the ball with his hand in the 18 yard box, to end the first half 2-1.

At the resumption of the second half, both teams created chances but unable to convert until  Taiwo Oripelayo found the back of the net for Insurance in the 69th minute to end the game 3-1. 

Speaking with journalists after the game,  Ibom Youth Coach, Emmanuel Ntuk, described the game as fair despite their loss, noting that “We gave good account of ourselves. It is not a bad game, but we will go back to the drawing board to try and correct mistakes we made so we can win our next match.”

On his part, Head Coach, Bendel Insurance, Monday Odigie, noted that his team is not yet where he planned it to be despite the win.”

Bendel Insurance will next play away against Gateway Utd of Abeokuta.