… as Odigie keeps faith with Insurance
Sporting Lagos FC recorded their first ever back to back wins in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) after defeating Bendel Insurance 1-0 on Sunday, at Mobolaj Johnson Stadium, Onikan Lagos.
Meanwhile, the Head Coach and Technical Director of Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin, Monday Odigie has expressed confidence in his team noting that his boys will return to winning ways and get better as the second round of the 2023/24 Nigeria Premier Football League progresses.
Coach Odigie made the assertion during a post match interview after Bendel Insurance FC loss in the Nigerian Premier Football League Match Day 20 game
Recall that Insurance defeated Sporting Lagos 3-1 in the Match Day 19 fixture in Benin City to end the first round of the League on high, but the Lagosians responded positively in the reversed fixture as the second round kicked off.
“The game has come and gone, we will continue to work on our mistakes and continue to correct them and get better. Sometimes you are well prepared but some mistakes can cost you the game,” Odigie said.
Coach Odigie however expressed optimism that his side will regain their feet as the season progresses.
The noisy Lagosians started the game purposefully, attacking from the right flank with Goalkeeper Amas Obasogie and Sunday Anyanwu curtailing the offensives of the invaders to a goalless first half.
The hungry Sporting Lagos got the breakthrough in the 56th minute with Tochukwu Micheal’s well taken freekick from the edge of the box that breezed through beyond the reach of Amas Obasogie’s gloves.
Insurance goalkeeper and some of his defenders had appealed to the referee for a handball against Sporting in the build-up to the goal, but the centre referee ignored their appeals.
In his search for equalizer, coach Odigie introduced Chukwudi Meze, Austin Ogunye, Maurice Prince and Ikhenoba Raymond in the places of Stephen Sodje, Paul Obata, Chisom Okereke and Divine Nwachukwu respectively in the 68th minute and 72nd minute which improved their game, but could not change the scoreline as the home team hung onto the one goal lead to the end.
Sporting Lagos returned to winning ways last week when they also defeated Rivers United at home. Prior to that game, Sporting Lagos were winless in seven.
The Sporting are now 13th on the NPFL table after spending the last five weeks in the relegation zone.
Bendel Insurance with the loss in Lagos, are pushed a step downward to the 8th position on 30 points on the log and will be going back to Benin City to prepare for another big encounter.
Insurance are up against former CAF Champions and League defending Champions Enyimba FC in the Match Day 21 game in Benin City next weekend.
