Bendel Insurance Football Club has gained promotion into the Nigeria Professional Football League NPFL as they defeated Ikorodu City last Thursday in the prestigeous Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City. A hard to beat Ikorodu City bowed to pressure and conceded a 2:0 defeat in the Nigeria National League NNL match which saw Bendel Insurance gain promotion into the NPFL.
Though Bendel Insurance are not new to the NPFL but due to lack of consistency on thier part, they haven’t been able to stamp thier feet in the topflight. In the game which involved the Ogun State based team holding down the Benin Arsenal till the 53rd minutes, Substitute, Echeta Deputy put the Benin based club ahead in the 53rd minute to set the pace and in the 68th minute, Imade Osarenkhoe consolidated the win with his spot kick to make it 2 nil.
Although, the win over Ikorodu City might just be a confirmation of thier promotion, second place Gateway United lost to Vandrezzer by 3 goals to nil in Lagos before the Benin encounter. This means that Insurance have gone ten points clear off second place Gateway United.
Chairman of the club and deputy governor of Edo State, Rt Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu had expressed his delight in the manner in which the team secured an NPFL slot for next season. Speaking after the match, Shaibu assured the team on his continuous support and dedication to achieve greater heights. “I am really happy for today and I must say that I want to commend the Insurance players, coaches and management for this impressive run and success”
Insurance qualified with two games to spare and has become a formidable force to reckon with this season in the NPFL and when the 2022/2023 NPFL kicks off, Bendel Insurance, according to the club’s chairman, will try to maintain thier stay in the league.
