Bendel Insurance FC of Benin recorded their first win in the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) on Monday defeating Lobi Stars of Markurdi 1-0 in a resheduled game played at the University of Benin Sports Complex reports Completesports.com.
The defeat was a second for Lobi Stars in three days following their 1-0 loss to Wydad Casablanca in the CAF Champions League match day 3 game played at the Nnamdi Azikiwe stadium.
After a goalless first half, Bendel Insurance club captain, Charles Omokaro grabbed the match winner for the Benin Arsenals in the 68th minute of the keenly contested encounter.
Samuel Mathias had Lobi Stars best chance to restore parity but he fluffed his lines ten minutes later.
Bendel Insurance move up to seventh in the NPFL table with six points from five games.
They are away to Katsina United at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina on match day seven.
By Johnny Edward.
4 Comments
I hope Super Eagles number 2 goalkeeper Ezenwa returns for Katsina United in that encounter having missed their last match due to facial injury.
A statement released prior to their last fixture read: “Yes, Ezenwa won’t make the squad that will face Tornadoes because of the knock he picked during our match against Remo Stars.
He is still going through treatment and has not been certified by the doctors to play, but hopefully he will be fit and available to face Bendel Insurance on Wednesday.”
Lobi Stars will continue to dwindle if cares is not taken.
I feel the team has been demoralised after their home lose to Wyda Casablanca of Morocco.
At this stage now, one would have expect the state government to console and encourage the boys, but, with this result the will be abandoned to their fate.
@Abah-fada, the game was too soon after the Continental match. As one was postposed a day, the NPFL match should have been moved forward by a day as well. players were tired, one tough match followed by a second tough match. Bodies had not yet recovered
So basically Lobi travelled to Enugu from Makurdi to play CAF Champions league match against Wydad on Saturday. Game was supposed to be Friday giving them 3 days rest between matches but was postponed to Saturday because the stadium was being used for a political rally.
Then they went on to Benin to plat NPFL match on Monday (two days later). This match should have been pushed forward as well in consequence of their earlier match to give them sufficient rest between games.
two games in two days (Saturday and Monday) is too much especially a continental game and then NPFL. Its not like the second game is against the Elegushi Bombers in the FA cup.
The NFF and the LMC as well as the football authorities do not consider players when taking their decisions