Bendel Insurance FC of Benin secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Ikorodu FC of Lagos in a tense Matchday 26 fixture of the Nigerian Premier Football League (NPFL) on Thursday. The match was played at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Edo State, and witnessed thrilling moments and dramatic shifts in momentum.
The Benin-based side, known as the “Benin Arsenal,” dominated possession throughout the first half but was left to rue missed opportunities. Despite several attempts on goal, they failed to find the back of the net in the opening 45 minutes. The closest they came to scoring was in the 23rd minute when Uche Collins’ effort was well-blocked, keeping the scoreline at 0-0.
Ikorodu FC, on the other hand, struggled to create significant chances and were largely passive in their attacking play. The only notable event in the first half came in the 40th minute when Sodeinde Moses of Ikorodu received a yellow card for a reckless tackle. The first half ended goalless, with Insurance left frustrated by their inability to convert their chances.
However, the second half saw the home team up their game. In the 56th minute, Stanley Okorom opened the scoring with a thunderous volley that gave Insurance the lead, sending the home fans into a frenzy. But Ikorodu responded quickly. Just three minutes later, they leveled the score through Adelani Shola, who expertly curled in a free-kick that left Insurance’s goalkeeper with no chance.
With the score at 1-1, the game grew even more intense. Insurance continued to control possession but struggled to break down Ikorodu’s defense after their equalizer. Nonetheless, in the 68th minute, Uche Collins redeemed himself from his earlier missed chances. He scored the winning goal, calmly slotting home to make it 2-1 and securing all three points for Bendel Insurance.
After the match, Greg Ikhenoba, the head coach of Bendel Insurance, expressed relief and gratitude for the win, especially after suffering a 3-0 defeat to Ikorodu in the first leg earlier in the season. He reflected on the difficulty of the game, saying, “This was the first team that defeated us 3-0 in the first round, and that was the beginning of the difficult situation we found ourselves. But that is in the past. We give glory to God for today’s result.” Ikhenoba also looked ahead to their next match, emphasizing the need for the team to remain focused and keep their momentum going.
On the other hand, Ikorodu FC’s coach, Nuruden Aweroro, despite the loss, expressed optimism, viewing the match as a valuable learning experience for his team. “First of all, I want to give thanks for the game. The result is not what I hoped for, but this is one of those matches that will teach me how to make the right corrections for the team,” Aweroro said. He acknowledged that while his team did not perform poorly in the first half, their plans for a win did not come to fruition.
The victory propelled Bendel Insurance further up the table, keeping them in contention for a higher finish in the NPFL. With their next game scheduled for Sunday, Insurance will look to build on this win and maintain their strong run.