Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin Saturday evening booked their place in the second round of the 2023/2024 CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round after recording a 4-3 victory on penalty kicks over Association Sportive Olympique de Chlef (ASO Chlef) in Algeria.
The Benin Arsenals had last week defeated their hosts 1-0 in Benin last Saturday and we’re beaten by the same goal margin to even the game at 1-1 at the 12,000 capacity Salem Mabrouki Stadium, Rouiba, Algiers before going into penalty shootouts where Amas Obasogie became the hero of the night by saving two kicks.
Reacting to the victory this evening, Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu congratulated the team for the heroic performance, saying that they have squizzed out water from the rocks.
Shaibu who was a former captain of Insurance that led the team to the Nigeria Premier Football League two seasons ago was full of praises for the boys for making Edo State proud.
According to Shaibu, this performance is a good representation of the investment of the state in the team in the last seven years. “Congratulations to our darling team Bendel Insurance FC Official for a quality performance and for securing a spot in the 2nd Preliminary Round of the 2023/2024 CAF Confederation Cup.”
“Your victory is a great motivation to the government that all its efforts, investment and sacrifices for you are not a waste – thank you”, he said.
However, the Sports-loving Deputy Governor, specifically singled Amas Obasogie, describing him as his “man of the match.”
“Special recognition goes to Amas Obasogie for his outstanding performance and resilience in the goal line – saving one penalty in the regular time and two others in the shootouts when we thought all hopes were lost – he is my man of the Match.”
“Once again, Congratulations to the team for putting up a good fight.”
Bendel Insurance will host RS Berkane on September 15 in the first leg of the second preliminary in Benin City, before travelling to Morroco the following week for the second leg.