Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin showed character and resilience as they came from behind to pull a 1-1 draw at Enyimba International FC in the 2023 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Week 10 match in Aba.
Imade Osarenkhoe’s 81st-minute rocket free kick from 20 meters beat the People’s Elephants defense wall and goalkeeper John Noble to earn Insurance FC deserved away point. Ebuka Akobundu was tripped close to the Enyimba box to win the free kick which gave Insurance the equalizer.
Chukwuemeka Obioma had given the eight times league champions Enyimba the lead through a well taken spot kick in the 43rd minute of play, following a penalty against Sunday Anyanwu hard tackle which rewarded the former CAF champions for their first half hard work.
With the 1-1 draw,the Benin Arsenals have extended their unbeaten run in the current premier league season and keep their leadership in group A intact with 24 points after ten games.
Insurance will be returning to Benin with pride having picked four points at the expense of the biggest club in Nigeria,to prepare for Akwa Utd are their guests in the midweek match day 11 fixtures in Benin.
Insurance defeated Enyimba FC in the first round match in Benin 1-0 and shared the spoils with the People’s Elephants in Aba to prove their readiness for continental football actions.
In a post match interview,Insurance FC manager coach Monday Odigie praised his players for rising up to the occasion, particularly in the second half. He admitted that it is not a mean feat to come from behind to share the spoils with the People’s Elephants on their home ground.
He thanked God for the vital away draw. He said that his team played against the best team in the country. He described Enyimba FC as a role model team in Nigeria.
