Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin,weekend defeated Abeokuta Stormers 2-0 in one of Match Day 14 fixtures in the Nigeria National League (NNL) to climb to the top of group B1 table.
The Benin Arsenal completed the task of securing the important six points in the first half with goals from Meyiwa Oritseweyinmi (19 minutes) and Zaidu Ayuba’s spot kick in the 26th minute to seal victory.
The Stormers who looked improved almost made the job difficult for the Insurance with their defensive style of play but Stephen Adodo”s 20 yard shot was too much for the Stormers goalkeeper Salaudeen Tunde as his groping hands could not grip the hot ball,leaving it for Meyiwa Oritseweyinmi to camly drive it into the net to complete the task in the 19th minute.
The visitors had the opportunity of getting an equalizer in the 22 minutes of the game but Goalkeeper Amas Obasogie denied them with his brilliant save in One on One situation to keep Insurance goal lead after their defensive error had made the visitors came threatening.
In the 25th minute, Sarki Ismael was brought down inside the Stormers box,resulting in a penalty which zaidu Ayuba confidently converted to increase the tally to 2-0 .
The hard work by both teams in the second half though did not produce any goal but entertaining as Insurance held on with Amas Obasogie keeping a clean sheet on his return to the post after injury scare that kept him out for two months.
Meanwhile, the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium was electrified towards the end of the game as coach Monday Odigie introduced wonderkid Efe Aghama in the place of Sarki Ismael as Ogbe fans chanted and hailed the coaches decision to bring in the lad whose skills and touches were noticeable within five minutes on the field.
Efe Joka Aghama graduated from the Insurance Feeders team after helping the young Insurance to lift Stephen Keshi National U-17 Football Tournament for the second time in 2021. He was voted the most valuable and highest goalscorer of the tournament which held in Benin.
The Benin Arsenal who also defeated their visitors Abeokuta Stormers 1-0 in their first round meeting at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Ogun state now lead Group B1 with 28 points and will be visitors to Campos FC in their next game.
