Kingsley Abavo (Sports desk)
Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin, on Saturday, 19 August, 2023 struggled to defeat their opponent: ASO ChIef of Algeria in the 2023/2024 CAF Confederation Cup by a 1-0 victory in Benin.
The Benin Arsenals kept the visitors consistently under pressure for the better part of the game in the first half with forward, Imade Osarenkhoe scoring the only goal of the match in the 42nd minute to send the home crowd into jubilation.
But to cross the last hurdle of the first preliminary match of the continental engagement, the slim victory puts the Benin Arsenals under intense pressure, to do extra work to remain in contention when they visit the Algerian side on Saturday, 27 August, 2023.
Insurance FC wasted three glaring scoring chances within the 30 minutes of play before Osarenkhoe connected a free kick taken by Sunday Anyanwu outside the 18 yard box, to give the Nigerian side the lead.
Abdurrahim Hamra of AS Chlef received the first yellow card in the match for rough tackle against Zaidu Ayuba of Insurance FC at the centre of the field; the foul that led to the goal.
Gape Mohutsiwa of the Algerian club received the second booking for another rough tackle shortly before the half time.
The second half resumed with Insurance FC trying to sustain their first half performance, but were matched by the visitors who stepped up their game and became more tactical in search of an equalizer which they never got.
As the fireworks continue, Sarki Ismael of Insurance FC came close to another goal in the 62nd minutes, but his nod slightly went wide.
Coach Monday Odigie of Insurance FC in his post - match interview with journalists, said his team would work on their goal scoring ability before the return leg.
As he commended his players to had been able to maintain the lead to the end asserting; it was a good game!
Coach Odigie pointed out that football is not the number of goals scored; but the number of points the team gets.
“It was a good game to worry about the mistakes, and work to correct them. This game has passed and our focus is on the second game.”
Also commenting, former Super Eagles Coach, Austin Eguavon lauded the tactical play of the Benin Arsenals noting:
“Bendel Insurance has been out of continental contest for a long time. Coming back now, they have brought beauty to the game. Our return leg in Algeria will be a very tough one but we hope Bendel Insurance will make us proud.”
Obaseki Optimistic of victory in Algeria
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki was among the massive crowd mobilised by the State Government to cheer the home team to victory, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
The Governor commending the team for the lone goal victory, expressed the optimism that with the youthfulness, and resilience of the team, they would scale through the battle of Algeria next Saturday.
“I feel happy as we have a very good, youthful, strong and imaginative team.
"I am really thrilled and pleased with their performance this evening. The weather was not clement, but the boys performed well.
“They had good ball control. Having studied the Algerian team, our coach will make sure they put up a good strategy and come home with the victory.
"I am very optimistic that we will get a win over there in Algeria."
... feeling elated
Governor Obaseki obviously elated not only with the victory of the home team, but also with the massive turn out of the fans asserts:
“This is one of the greatest achievements of our government. We were able to mobilise the citizens and football lovers to fill this stadium and cheer our team to victory.
“I feel good and great our team has performed well and we have brought football back to life in Benin city and this team will go far in this competition."
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