Adibe Emenyonuin Benin City
After watching Bendel Insurance return to winning ways against El Kanemi in a Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Match-day 15 Clash at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City at the weekend, Edo State Deputy Governor, Phillip Shaibu, in his usual magnanimity, ordered free Insurance jersey gifts for the first 50 fans at the game.
The win was the second round first maximum three points for Bendel Insurance who played five consecutive draw games even as they were yet to lose any match since returning to the Nigerian topflight this season.
Shaibu who watched the entire duration of the game with some top government officials, was obviously excited with the win and directed that the first 50 fans at the match to be gifted Bendel Insurance jerseys.
Second half goals from the Benin Arsenal second striker Sarki Ismael and highly experienced Austin Ogunye changed the complexion of the game to give both the proprietors and the home fans of the hosts something good to take home as sallah gift.
Ismail Sarki gave Bendel Insurance fans Eid-el-Fitri gift with his fifth goal of the season in the 55 minutes of the game before substitute Austine Ogunye added the second four minutes later to return Insurance to winning ways with a 2-1 win over El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri who managed to reduce the deficit via a penalty kick brilliantly taken by Mohammed in the 67 minute of play.
Insurance went into the game eager from the blast of the whistle to outwit their relegation threatened visitors. But all efforts to get the matter settled in the first half proved abortive as the Group A table toppers could not get the finishing touches around the opponents’ goal before the sound of half time break.
Monday Odigie made two quick changes in the second half when he sent in Saturday Meelubari in the place of Osas Okoro and Austine Ogunye in for Imade Osarenkhoe in the 46th minutes, to strengthen his attack.
The substitutes made quick impact on the game with promising attacks and breathtaking furray which enabled Sarki Ismael beat Hassan Abubakar to an aerial contest to head home the deadlock breaker following Efe Enabulele’s cross from the flank in the 54th minute.
Four minutes later, Deputy Echeta paced down the left wing and cut back a pass for a well-positioned Austine Ogunye who hit home the second for his team.
The visiting Elkanemi Warriors in the 68th minute of play sent fears down the spines of Bendel Insurance faithful as they pulled one goal back through Muhammed Hussaini from the spot kick after Austine Ogunye had been penalised for climbing over an Elkanemi Warriors player in the box.
The 2-1 home win keeps Bendel Insurance on top of Group A with 31 points from 15 games. They remain the only team with unbeaten record so far this season.
Insurance are to next face Abubakar Bukola Saraki FC on Wednesday in the Round of 64 of the Federation Cup in Lagos before heading to Gombe to play Gombe United on Match day 16 of the NPFL season.
RESULTS
B’Insurance 2-1 Elkanemi
Enyimba. 1-1 Remo Stars
Plateau Utd 1-0 Nasarawa
Shooting 3-0 Gombe Utd
Doma Utd 2-1 Bayelsa Utd
N’Tornadoes 3-0 Abia War
Sunshine 1-0 Lobi Stars
TODAY
Akwa Utd Vs Kwara Utd
Dakkada. Vs Rangers Int’l
Wikki Vs Rivers Utd (PP)
