… as Sporting Lagos sack six players, recruit 12
As the second round of 2023/2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) actions resume nationwide, Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin battle top-flight league new entrants Sporting Lagos in the Match Day 20 game scheduled to kick off at 4:00 pm at the Mobolaji Johnson Stadium, Suruldre, Lagos.
The Benin Arsenals are facing the Lagosians for the second time, hoping for a good result as they still revel in the confidence-boosting 3-1 spanking of their matchday 20 hosts in their first encounter in the matchday 19 in Benin.
With an eye on the top-three finish, Insurance will be approaching the Sunday game with caution, bearing in mind the exploit of Sporting against former league champions Rivers Utd. Sporting pipped Rivers Utd 1-0 in their rescheduled match on day 19 to end the first round in high spirits.
Insurance FC, of course, is not scared of Sporting Lagos in the reversed fixture despite the exit of some key players including defence strongman Benjamin Tanimu and goal poacher Sarki Ismael.
Coach Monday Odigie-led Insurance never relies on a particular player to perform any spectacular outcome but believes in teamwork and determination as their driving principles. Playing under the right atmosphere on Sunday, Bendel Insurance is primed to pick their first away maximum points.
The good news is that there are no injury concerns in the camp of the Benin Arsenals as the captain Maurice Prince and Mercurial Divine Nwanchukwu are fully back and are in the squad prepared for the clash in Lagos.
The Benin Arsenals currently occupy the 7th position on the twenty-team log with thirty points at the end of the first round of nineteen matches. Insurance is yet to have away victory and they are prepared for the first one which is possible in Lagos.
Sporting Lagos on the other hand, have been struggling in the rear as they currently occupy 15 position on the log with 21 points.
The NPFL outfit, Sporting Lagos had earlier sacked six players. The players are Odafi Emmanuel, Saturday Okon, Abiodun Balogun, Godwin Udoh, Osan Mamah and Onyeka Ojieh. The club wished all the players success in the rest of their journey.
Notwithstanding, Sporting Lagos have recruited 12 players ahead of the second stanza.
