Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin were on Saturday, September 16,2023 forced to a 2–2 draw by RS Berkane of Morocco in the Second Round of the 2023/24 CAF Confederation Cup preliminary stage.
Insurance FC were impressive in their performance against the 2022 champions despite the stalemate in Benin.
Imade Osarenkhoe gave Insurance FC the lead in the 28th Minute of the action packed first leg match at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, Benin,with a fine shot after latching on a rebound from Benjamin Tanimu’s shot on target which was to hot for goalkeeper Amine El Quaad.
The Moroccans equalized in the 39th minute of play through Hamza El Moussaoui, following a poor clearance by Bendel Insurance defenders.
Both sides went into the dressing room at half time with a goal apiece.
On resumption, Insurance took the battle to the gate of the visitors with substitute Vincent Augustus tapping in Imade Osarenkhoe’s fine cross to put Bendel Insurance in front again in the 60th minute of play, sending the home fans into celebration at the 12,000 capacity filled Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
Augustus goal celebration was however muted in the 78th minute with an equalizing goal by Mohamed El Morabit for the visitors. Morabit scored through a quick counter attack.
The game finished 2-2 but remains opened going into the second-leg game next week in Morocco.
Meanwhile, the head coach and Technical Director of Bendel Insurance FC, Monday Odigie has vowed to defend the pride of the club as his team continues in the battle for the group stage of the 2023/24 CAF Confederation cup in morocco.
The Benin Arsenals are guests to the Renaissance de Sportive in the second leg of the CAF competition on September 29 in Morocco, hoping to cross the last hurdles to the group stage abroad.
Coach Odigie was speaking during
the post match interview, at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium when he made the declaration.
“It is not over yet. We will go back to work. I keep telling people, football is about participation, not always about winning at home. If you don’t play well, even in your bedroom, opponents can beat you. I think we should appreciate the performance of our team. If we want to remain in the competition, we must go and fight for it. We are going to defend the pride of Bendel Insurance in Morocco,” He vowed.
The coach of Berkane LKarma Amine in his reaction said that his boys played like men. ” We did a good job and I am satisfied with the result.”
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