NPFL: Insurance Spank Kwara Utd, Coach Odigie Steps Down for Ikhenoba

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin City

Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin yesterday enjoyed the new Coach Greg Ikhenoba’s bounce after they defeated visiting Kwara United 3-1 to begin the process of crawling out of the drop zone they are in at the moment.

Insurance’s long-serving Coach Monday Odigie quit the job before thie match kicked off.

Insurance’s forward, Nazir Mohammed, put the homers in front in the 18 minutes of play following a well-taken right footed shoot that caught kwara Utd goalkeeper, Nurudeen Badmus, napping.

However, Emmanuel Ogbole restored parity for Kwara United from a defensive blunder by Emmanuel Ugwu five minutes later.

Despite countless missed scoring opportunities by the Benin Arsenal, Nazir Mohammed, again put Insurance in front after a goal mouth scramble to end the first half 2-1

Insurance veteran attacker, Austin Ogunye, in the 85th minute dented the hope of Kwara United going to Ilorin with at least a point after a well positioned header.

Speaking to sports journalists during a post-match interview, Bendel Insurance’s stand-in Coach Greg Ikhenoba, commended his boys for the victory.

Coach Ikhenoba promised to work on his team ahead of their visit to Lafia against Nasarawa United this weekend.

He maintained that the team is work in progress, especially playing against all odds, and charged his boys to be clinical in front of goal.

On his part, Kwara United gaffer, Tunde Sanni, said his team did not play their normal game against Insurance, adding that “Kwara United play better than this”.

“We came in yesterday (Friday) and we cannot say fatigue. We just lost concentration, if not, we cannot lose heavily like this. Since the commencement of the season, we hardly conceded two goals let alone three goals” Coach Sanni hinted.

Benue State-owned Lobi Stars were forced to a 2-2 draw by Kano Pillars.

Troubled Lobi Stars appeared to be coasting home to a vital home win on Saturday only for Kano Pillars to peg them back in dramatic fashion.

Veteran midfielder Rabiu Ali scored his seventh goal of the campaign in the 76th minute to pull a goal back for Pillars, before Mustapha Umar drew the visitors level two minutes later.

Pillars remain sixth on the log with 19 points from 13 matches, while Lobi Stars climbed out of the drop zone pending other results tomorrow.

In the early kick-off in Uyo, El Kanemi Warriors defeated hosts Akwa United by the odd goal. The win has shot the Maiduguri team to third place in the standings provisionally.

The ‘Oriental Derby’ between hosts Heartland FC and Enugu Rangers ended goalless, so also the clash between Niger Tornadoes and visiting Ikorodu City.

RESULTS

NPFL

El Kanemi 1-0 Akwa Utd

B’Insurance 3-1 Kwara Utd

Heartland 0-0 Rangers

Lobi Stars 2-2 K’Pillars

Tornadoes 0-0 Ikorodu

Premier League

Leicester 1-2 Chelsea

Arsenal 3-0 Forest

Aston Villa 2-2 Cry’Palace

Bo’mouth 1-2 Brighton