Bendel Insurance won a chaotic clash of bigwigs at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium as Imade Osarenkhoe’s first-half strike gave the table toppers victory over Enyimba International on Sunday evening.
Imade’s sixth Nigeria Premier Football League goal of the season finally breached a solid Enyimba defence after tapping in a pass from the centre of the opposition box.
In a game that was played on the edge of ill-discipline from the visitors, the sound of the full-time whistle felt like vindication to Insurance and their fans, infuriated at seeing a succession of presentable penalty appeals rejected by the referee.
Sarki Ismael came closest for Insurance before the break, bending a beauty but it was parried to safety by John Noble. In a bid to level the game, Sodiq Abubakar was booked for simulation in the box.
For the rest of the game, it was the Benin Arsenal posing the real threat in that period, with Imade Osarenkhoe and Sarki Ismael taking turns to test Super Eagles goalie, John Noble.
Bendel Insurance remains the only team in the NPFL yet to taste defeat (7 wins and 2 draws), conceding the least number of goals (3).