…as Bendel Insurance record second home loss to Kano Pillars
…amid controversial penalty kick
Fans, players and officials of Bendel Insurance Football Club in a protest have questioned the rationale behind the penalty kick awarded to Kano Pillars by the center referee, Adeniyi Adewale, that led to the Benin Arsenals home loss in the MarchDay 11 encounter.
In a dramatic and contentious finish, Bendel Insurance Football Club suffered their second consecutive home defeat on Saturday, losing 1-0 to Kano Pillars at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.
The game’s decisive moment came in the 98th minute when Adeniyi Adewale from Oyo State awarded a penalty to Kano Pillars after ruling that a Bendel defender handled the ball while attempting to clear it from his team’s goal area.
The penalty decision immediately sparked protests from Bendel Insurance players, coaches, and fans alike, who felt the call was unwarranted. After a tense delay, Kano Pillars’ captain, Rabiu Ali, stepped up to take the spot kick, converting it to clinch three crucial points for his team.
Veteran midfielder Rabiu Ali proved to be the hero of the game after converting the decisive penalty deep into stoppage time to seal the win.
The goal marked Ali’s sixth of the season, showcasing his reliable scoring form for the club.
The 1-0 victory handed Bendel Insurance their second home loss this season, leaving fans and team officials deeply frustrated.
The match was fiercely competitive, with both teams deploying a range of tactical strategies to break the deadlock. Bendel Insurance maintained control for much of the game, generating dangerous chances in both halves, but Kano Pillars’ defense proved unyielding. Even former Nigerian international Ahmed Musa struggled to make an impact, as Insurance’s defenders effectively neutralized him throughout the 90 minutes.
To boost their offensive play, Bendel Insurance’s coach, Monday Odigie, made multiple substitutions, but the home side’s persistence ultimately went unrewarded.
The controversial penalty decision in injury time overshadowed what was otherwise a hard-fought match, with many fans alleging bias on the part of the referee. Some called for Adewale to be banned, believing his decisions had unfairly influenced the game’s outcome.
Amid mounting fan outrage, police and security personnel were deployed to escort the Kano Pillars team out of the Stadium safely.
Supporters of Bendel Insurance have voiced demands for the football authorities to review the penalty incident, asserting that it marred the competitive spirit of the game.
While Bendel Insurance faces mounting pressure to recover from this setback, Kano Pillars celebrate a hard-fought away win, having secured three valuable points in what will be remembered as a match marked by controversy and intense emotions.
Kano Pillars climbed to fourth place in the Nigeria Premier Football League after the dramatic 1-0 victory over the Benin Arsenals.
Bendel Insurance currently sits at 14th on the table with their next game away to Enugu Rangers on Sunday, November 17.
