Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin will continue to step up their preparation for the 2023 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) with some more grade A preseason friendlies after a narrow loss to NPFL current champions Rivers United by a lone goal.
The Benin Arsenal’s tactician Monday Odigie made this known after Insurance friendly match with Rivers Utd at the Amasimiaka stadium in Port Harcourt on Thursday morning.
Insurance FC expects a return leg of friendly with the NPFL champions Rivers Utd at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin and eyes a final preseason friendly with another south south giants Akwa Utd in January before the 2023 season kickoff which has again been moved to January 8,2023.
Paul Acquah’s 40th minute header off a perfect cross from Ebube Duru gave Rivers Utd the 1-0 win over Insurance who were impressive throughout the match.
Insurance however got an ample opportunity to level up in the 84th minute with a penalty kick awarded them but Benjamin Tanimu’s spot kick was saved by Seidu Mutawakilu to deny Insurance FC a point.
Insurance remain work in progress, according to the handler Monday Odigie who expressed optimism that soon they will get to the right stage of readiness for the premier league actions as they continue to fine tune.
According to him,the Rivers game, despite the 1-0 loss was a good one for his team as it was an opportunity to blend some new signees with the main team.
Bendel Insurance FC recently got promotion ticket NPFL after finishing as champions of the 2021/22 Nigeria National League.
