Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin on Wednesday defeated visiting Enyimba International Football Club of Aba 1-0 in a rescheduled week 20 Nigeria Premier Football League game, played at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
The lone goal was scored in the 55 minutes by Kayode Oke, who deflected a shot from Nnamdi Anthony into the net of the visitors.
In what was a keenly contested match between the two teams, it was the homers who did enough to take all three points.
Enyimba suffered a setback early in the first half after centre defender Innocent Gabriel was sent off for a foul on Insurance’s Oke.
During the second half, Enyimba threw everything at the host with five substitutions that included ex-international Junior Lakosa, Somiari Alalibo, and Chinedu Ufere in search of an equaliser.
After the game, Insurance head coach, Greg Ikhenoba, said the victory was a perfect birthday gift for him as his birthday comes up on Thursday (today).
He said his players would continue to improve on their performances as the league progresses
On his part, Enyimba FC Coach, Stanley Eguma, rued their missed goal-scoring chances, saying that they would make correction before hosting Rivers United in their week 25 encounter.
In the reverse fixture, Bender Insurance had a goalless draw in Aba during the first stanza of the 2024/25 NPFL season.
They will be entertaining visiting Niger Tornadoes on Sunday and a win will brighten their hope of a continental ticket.
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