In a postponed week 20 Nigeria Premier Football League match at Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, the Benin-based Bendel Insurance Football Club defeated the visiting Enyimba International Football Club of Aba 1-0 on Wednesday.
Kayode Oke scored the only goal in the 55th minute after deflecting a Nnamdi Anthony effort into the visitors’ net.
The homers did enough to win all three points in a fiercely contested game between the two sides.
Enyimba suffered a setback early in the first half after centre defender Innocent Gabriel was sent off for a foul on Insurance’s Oke.
During the second half, Enyimba threw everything at the host with five substitutions that included ex-international Junior Lakosa, Somiari Alalibo, and Chinedu Ufere in search of an equaliser.
After the game, Insurance head coach, Greg Ikhenoba, said the victory was a perfect birthday gift for him as his birthday comes up on Thursday (today).
He said his players would continue to improve on their performances as the league progresses.
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On his part, Enyimba FC Coach, Stanley Eguma, rued their missed goal-scoring chances, saying that they would correct hosting Rivers United in their week 25 encounter.
In the reverse fixture, Bender Insurance had a goalless draw in Aba during the first stanza of the 2024/25 NPFL season.
They will be entertaining visiting Niger Tornadoes on Sunday and a win will brighten their hope of a continental ticket.
