Rivers United’s head coach, Stanley Eguma, has shown admiration for Bendel Insurance, led by Coach Monday Odigie, and urged Nigerians not to criticize the team despite their failure to advance to the group stage of the CAF Confederations Cup, platinumnewsng.com is reporting.
Rivers United is currently Nigeria’s sole representative on the continental stage after securing a 2-0 victory on aggregate over Etoile Filante of Burkina Faso at the Adokiye Amiesimaka stadium in Port Harcourt.
Following this victory, when asked about Monday Odigie’s comments on ‘football is about participation,’ Stanley Eguma emphasized the importance of appreciating a team’s progress.
Eguma stated, “Why do you participate? If football is not about winning, why do you participate? I am not countering my colleague, but look at Insurance, where they are coming from and should not be castigated. The coach has done a lot. Look at his opponent, RS Berkane; they are one of the best teams on the continent. With such a scoreline they played, they should not be castigated. The team has done well despite being eliminated. They participated because they wanted to win,” he explained.
Bendel Insurance faced RS Berkane and lost 3-2 on aggregate, following a 1-0 defeat away from home. The Benin Arsenal, who remained unbeaten throughout the regular season of the top-flight league, earned their continental spot by winning the 2023 Federation Cup in Asaba. Before the previous season, Bendel Insurance competed in the second division, the Nigeria National League.
Photo Credit: Bendel Insurance on X