NPFL: Bendel Insurance Beat Rangers to Climb to Top Four

Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin began the New Year on a positive note, defeating Rangers International FC of Enugu 2-0  in their match-day 17 fixture of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).

The win moved Insurance to fourth spot on the log on 27 points from 17 games, just four points adrift of leaders Doma United who yesterday defeated Katsina United by same 2-0 margin to stay on top of the Nigerian topflight.

The Benin Arsenal left the Flying Antelopes dazed after throwing everything at the coach Monday Odigie led side without any goal for their fine play. Osaghae Jr opened scoring for the Benin Arsenals 14 minutes into the star match at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin. 

Osaghae Jr headed home Paul Obata’s cross from a free kick when he was left unmarked by Rangers who looked too confident.

Sarki Ismael netted the second goal to put the game out of the reach of coach Fidelis Ilechuku’s side in the 63rd minute of play when Goalkeeper Detan Ogundare recklessly gifted the ball to Sarki who calmly slotted it in to make it 2-0 for the hosts.

Rangers however remained unruffled after Insurance FC had taken the lead in the 14th minute of play as they mounted pressure on their hosts who approached the game courteously with a plan that eventually hypnotized the roaring visitors.

The Benin Arsenals’ Goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, Sunday Anyanwu and Tanimu Benjamin, Ebuka Akonbudu, Julius Emiloju and Stephens Sodje gave it a 100 per cent  concentration, making Insurance defence line difficult for the Flying Antelopes to breach.

Speaking in a post match interview, Head Coach of Bendel Insurance FC, Monday Odigie gave kudos to his boys for rising up to the challenge posed by their visitors.

“ I am happy we won the game and I’m happy that Insurance players rose up to the occasion. We don’t really have big players hence we always try to discipline ourselves tactically.”

On why he did not start his star midfielder, Divine Nwachukwu,  whose introduction in the second half impacted the team immediately, Coach Odigie explained:”We try to do our best to save our players. Divine Nwachukwu just returned from injury and it is not proper to throw him into the thick. We want to manage them to be available for the entire season.”