posted August 20, 2023
…Gov. Obaseki Optimistic of victory in Algeria
Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria defeated Aso Chlef FC of Algeria by a lone goal at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary clash, on Saturday.
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, while commending the Bendel Insurance team for the victory, said he’s now optimistic more than ever that the Benin club side would repeat the performance in their second leg encounter coming up at a later date in Algeria.
Bendel Insurance striker, Imade Osarenkhoe, scored the lone goal of the game in the 41st minute of the tension-soaked match to wild jubilation from the fans who filled the 12,000-capacity stadium to the brim.
Speaking after the match, Obaseki said: “I feel happy as we have a very good, youthful, strong, and imaginative team. I am really thrilled and pleased with their performance this evening. The weather was not clement, but the boys performed well.
“They had good ball control. Having studied the Algerian team, our coach will make sure they put up a good strategy and come home with the victory. I am very optimistic that we will get a win over there in Algeria.
He continued: “This is one of the greatest achievements of our government. We were able to mobilize the citizens and football lovers to fill this stadium and cheer our team to victory.
“I feel good and great our team has performed well and we have brought football back to life in Benin City and this team will go far in this competition”
Former Super Eagles Coach, Austin Eguavon, lauded the tactical play of the Bendel Insurance team, noting: “Bendel Insurance has been out of the continental contest for a long time. Coming back now, they have brought beauty to the game. Our return leg in Algeria will be a very tough one but we hope Bendel Insurance will make us proud.”
The Coach of Insurance, Monday Odegie, who praised the performance of his boys, said it was a good game.
He noted that football is not the number of goals scored but the number of points the team gets, adding: “It was a good game to worry about the mistakes and work to correct them. This game has passed and our focus is on the second game.”
Other guests present at the stadium include the Speaker of Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA), Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku; former Deputy Governor of Edo State, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe; Edo State Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa Esq.; Chief of Staff to Edo State Governor, Hon. Osaigbovo Iyoha; Chairman, Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi; Chairman, Edo State Sports Commission, Yusuf Ali, and the Chief Medical Director of University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Prof. Darlington Obaseki.