It was a day of glory and double celebration for Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin family as their two teams in the 2023 Federation Cup began their campaigns in the Round of 64 with victories over their opponents on Wednesday, April 26.
The senior team who have been in spectacular form, maintaining unbeaten run in group A of the NPFL, pipped ABS FC of Ilorin1-0 in Lagos to progress to the round of 32.
Ebenezer Odeyemi scored the only goal of the match for the Benin Arsenals in the 25th minute with a clinical header, following Zaidu Ayuba’s fine assist in the match played at the Mobolaji Johnson Stadium,Onikan,Lagos.
Insurance FC were made to do extra work by the highly disciplined ABS in the second half of the game before they could run away with the lone goal victory as the Ilorin boys fought tooth and nail in search of equalizer which never came,thanks to the solid rock defense network of Sunday Anyanwu, Benjamin Tanimu,Efe Enabulele and Julius Emiloju who were to strong for the Ilorin boys.
Insurance reached the round of 16 last season before losing to Nasarawa Utd 2-1 in Aba,Abia state.
Meanwhile, Insurance Feeders at Lokoja center defeated giant killers Maikunkele FC of Niger state 4-0 to qualify for the round of 32.
Godstime Alakwe opened scoring for the Insurance Feeders in the second minute of play before Efe Aghama doubled the lead in the 43rd minute.
The team from Niger came close to reducing the deficit in the 45th minute with a spot kick which the safe gloves of Joshua Baba stopped, shortly before the halftime whistle.
Insurance Feeders’ thirst for goals continued as they found their match winning rythm again when their super left back Kennedy Osemudiame’s shot on target was deflected by Maikunkele FC defender into own net to increase the tally to 3-0 in the 81st minute of play.
With time drifting away, highly experienced Okai Goddy took advantage of Eweka Sylvester’s beautiful assist and finished it with a sublime shot to make it 4-0 for the Insurance Feeders in the 87th minute.
The Insurance Feeders started the 2023 Federation Cup last week,in the playoff game in Ilorin with a 2-0 victory over Smart City Feeders to qualify for the round of 64.
