Bendel Insurance walk tight rope, draw 2-2 with Morocco’s RS Berkane in Benin

Bendel Insurance

Unless a miracle happens in Morocco next week, one of Nigeria’s representatives in the 2023 CAF Confederation Cup, Bendel Insurance, may exit the competition following a 2-2 draw with RS Berkane, yesterday, in the first leg of their second round game of the competition.

Insurance defeated Algeria’s ASO Chlef in Benin 1-0 in the first round, went to Algeria to lose 0-1, but they survived the round courtesy of a 4-3 penalty shootout win. But to scale this round, they must either beat RS Berkane in Morocco or play out another 2-2 or higher score draw to move ahead on the away goals rule.

A 2-2 draw in Morocco will take the return leg to a penalty shootout, which may go any way. RS Berkane only need a goalless draw at home to eliminate the Nigerians.

Yesterday at the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium, the Benin Arsenal defied the early morning downpour to take the fight to the Moroccans. They got the opening goal in the 28th minute through Imade Osarenkhoe off a Benjamin Tanimu’s pass, but RS Berkane equalized in the 39th minute through Hamza El Moussaoui, who pounced on a poor clearance to draw his team level.

Substitute Vincent Augustus put Insurance in front again in the 61st minute to calm the nerves of their supporters. However, the respite was shortlived as Mohammed Mourabt equalised for the visitors in the 78th minute to
set the bar a little higher for the Godwin Obaseki boys, who must now gear up for the fight of their lives in Rabat to remain in the competition.

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