Bendel Insurance of Benin have qualified for the next round of the CAF Confederations Cup after defeating Algeria’s AS Olympic Chlef 4-3 on penalties on Saturday in Algiers.
The Benin Arsenal lost 1-0 in the regulation time, a Souibaah Mohammed’s 41st minute stylish finish, bringing the aggregate score to 1-1 having beaten the North Africans with the same score line last week in Benin City. The match went straight into penalty kick where the Nigeria Federation Cup winners triumphed 4-3.
Bendel Insurance Goalkeeper, Amas Obasogie was the hero in Algiers as he rose up to the challenge posed by ASO Chlef with his impressive and heroic performance which stood him out as the man of the match.
Amas Obasogie saved a spot kick in the 32nd minute to silence the noisy ASO Chlef fans.
The stand-in captain again, saved two shots during the shootout to help his side triumph over ASO Chlef to qualify for the second round of the CAF competition.
Insurance will now face 2022 CAF Confederation Cup and CAF Super Cup winners RSB Berkane of Morocco in the second qualifying round.
In a post match interview, the head coach and Technical Director of Bendel Insurance FC Monday Odigie said football is a game of taking chances and happy his side won. He described his opponents as a tactically disciplined team who play quality football.
” ASO Chlef is a very good team; tactically disciplined. They took their chances and scored in the first half but we were about to take control of the second half. I thank God we won.” He said.
It has been an impressive period for Monday Odigie-led side since gaining promotion to the NPFL last season.
Bendel Insurance ended the regular league season unbeaten before finishing fifth in the NPFL Super Six playoffs with three draws and two defeats.
They also ended their trophy drought by beating Enugu Rangers 1-0 to win the Federation Cup, which ensured their qualification for the CAF Confederation Cup.
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