Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL)side Bendel Insurance have congratulated their former player Benjamin Tanimu on his Super Eagles debut.
Tanimu made his first appearance in the Super Eagles in Friday’s international friendly game against Black Stars of Ghana.
Despite making his first appearance, the 21-year-old gave a good account of himself, helping the Eagles backline to keep the Black Stars forward at bay.
After impressing, Tanimu was then replaced by goal scorer Ademola Lookman in the 79th minute.
Commenting on his debut, Bendel Insurance wrote on X:”Congratulations to you dear Benji,we are honored by your elevation and proud of you. Thanks to Almighty God.
“We thank the NFF, Super Eagles coaches for the confidence they repose in you. This is just the beginning of your progress.Soar Tanimu, soar Super Eagles. Adaaa… Bendel.”
Tanimu left Bendel Insurance after impressing and currently plays for Tanzanian side Ihefu Sports Club.
He could make his second appearance when the Eagles take on Mali in another friendly game on Tuesday.
4 Comments
If this lad is 21 and this good,how come he wasn’t a member of the last flying eagles?
Flying Eagles coached by tribal champion?
His name is not Ibrahim
It is instructive to note that Finidi (He confirmed he compiled the list) didn’t flood his team with Enyimba players, and instead selected a player who was recently with Bendel Insurance. He said in his post-match interview that Tanimu was a player he loved his style of play and wanted to get as Enyo=imba gaffer until the Tanzania club scooped him.
Bottom line: Finidi is merit-driven. Not a sentimental selector like the average indigenous coach, and which anti-local-coach always point to as the main reason for their opposition.
I’ve always believed that it’s unfair to solely judge a coach by their current result, without assessing the quality of players available to them. A Paseiro may shine at Real Madrid but struggle with Nigeria. Rohr may shine with Nigeria but become average with Benin. A Man City assistant coach could struggle with Nigeria with no De Bruyne, Halland, or Foden in the squad and none of all the world-class training facilities at Manchester at his disposal.
So if a coach can pull some weight at the continental level with Enyimba or can create records with an average Tanzania national team or win a FIFA World Cup with cadets who are world beaters today, that there is a big pointer of huge potential for those with keen insights.
Don’t judge a worker by current results but what they have been able to do with limited resources.
Amuneke/Finidi/Carl/Enyeama will get to the semi final of USA/<exico/Canada 2026.