Bendel Insurance FC of Benin, yesterday, defeated the visiting AS Olympic Chlef of Algeria by 1-0 in the first leg of the 2023/2024 CAF Confederation Cup season.
Insurance played host to the Algerian side in a continental match decided at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.
The Insurance forward, Imade Osarenkhoe scored in the 42rd minute to earn the hosts a slim victory ahead of their return leg on Aug. 27 in Algeria.
Insurance had wasted three chances within the first 30 minutes of play before Osarenkhoe connected the free kick taken by Sunday Anyanwu to give the Nigerian side a lead.
Abdurrahim Hamra of AS Chlef received the first yellow card in the match for roughly obstructed Zaidu Ayuba at the centre of the field; the foul that resulted into the goal.
Gape Mohutsiwa of the Algerian club received the second booking for rough tackle shortly before the half time.
The second half resumed with Insurance picking up from their first half performance, but were matched by the visitors who stepped up their game and became more tactical
Notwithstanding, Sarki Ismael of Insurance came close to another goal after 62 minutes, but his nod slightly went over the goal post.
Bendel Insurance will travel to Algeria for second leg to seek a consolidation if they are qualify for the second round of the competition.
Speaking after the game, the Bendel Insurance Football Club, Monday Odigie said the team will learn from its mistakes of not being able to net in more goals with the chances made available to them.
“We are going to learn from our mistakes , like you know the league has not started well so it is fair enough to be able to put up this kind of performance.
“Like I said, we will go back and try and improve on our condition and try to make less mistakes and try to take our chances that is what football is all about.
“It is not about what you play today but what you play when the next game comes. Every game we take it one after the other.
“Goal scoring is not the problem of Bendel Insurance it is a problem with the Nigerian system of football.
“We the coaches are going to keep trying to improve the players and give them the confidence to be able to play.
” we will not go to the field to play. You will agree with me that goal scoring is not peculiar with one team and the team is just new on the continent.
“I think we learn from this, then we will take the game and go and fight for the second leg and that is what matters”, Odigie said.
