Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin City will, on Wednesday evening, take on Akwa United Football Club at the Samuel Ogbemudia in a Matchday 35 fixture as the drive to maintain hope towards a top 3 finish in the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League continues.
Compared to two matchdays ago before facing Nasarawa United at home, Bendel Insurance FC’s hopes have somehow now experienced a downward spiral as a draw against the ‘Solid Miners’ at home and a loss to Plateau United in Jos have almost dented the chances of the Okpekpolo boys, moving them from 4th place on the log to their current 6th position with 50 points.
Not only did their failure to get wins in those two matches affect them negatively, but the results achieved by their potential opponents in the chase for the top three positions didn’t also help at all.
Abia Warriors, who currently sit on the highly coveted 3rd position on the log with 56 points, got a win and a loss in their last two matches, accounting for a two-point advantage over Bendel Insurance in the process.
Meanwhile, Ikorodu City and Enyimba International FC, who are 4th and 5th, respectively, on the log, also didn’t lose enough points to give Bendel insurance any advantage in the last two games. In fact, Enyimba were behind Bendel Insurance FC, but a 2-1 win away at Rangers and a 2-1 home victory against Kano Pillars got them the 5-point advantage over Bendel Insurance.
While 6 6-point difference exists between Bendel Insurance FC and Abia Warriors, who sit 3rd on the log, Bendel Insurance will have to win their remaining 3 games to continue to fight for a chance to make it to the CAF Confederations Cup.
The remaining 3 fixtures for Bendel Insurance FC include a home game against Akwa United FC on Wednesday, another home match against Heartland FC on Sunday and their final league game against Lobi Stars FC away, though in a neutral venue (Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu).
Though the matches look realistic for a possible 3 points for Bendel insurance, they’ll also hope that Abia Warriors, Ikorodu City and Enyimba don’t maintain their positions above them to get their desired hope of getting a continental ticket.
Ahead of their tie against the Promise keepers on Wednesday, Bendel Insurance will be looking to return to winning ways and also significantly improve against a relegation-threatened side.
In their last 4 meetings, Bendel Insurance has failed to secure a win against Akwa United, while their last victory against their Niger Delta counterparts was over two years ago when they secured a 2-0 shocking victory against the then-reigning champions at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in the season opener.
As for Akwa United, they currently sit 18th on the log with 41 points, with a loss for Kennedy Boboye’s side sure to plunge them further into relegation waters.