Bendel Insurance FC secured a convincing 4-1 victory over Barau FC of Kano on Sunday, October 4, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin. This win marked a return to form for Insurance FC and brought an end to Barau FC's unbeaten run in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). The match was a highly anticipated encounter, and the home side delivered a dominant performance in front of their supporters.
The scoring began in the 34th minute when Kayode Oke fired Insurance FC into the lead. Oke's energetic play earned him a brace, with his second goal coming in the 70th minute to extend Insurance FC's advantage. This demonstrated the home side's hunger for goals from the start of the match. Insurance FC's head coach, Kennedy Boboye, made tactical substitutions in the 66th minute, introducing Fatai Abdullahi, Wisdom Udom, and Suraju Lawal.
Barau FC responded to Insurance FC's goals with a penalty conversion by Sugau Aliyu in the 69th minute, reducing the deficit and giving the visitors renewed hope. However, Insurance FC quickly regrouped and contained Barau FC's advances. The home side's resilience was rewarded when Suraju Lawal scored in the 85th minute, assisted by Fatai Abdullah, to make the score 3-1 and put the game out of Barau FC's reach.
The match concluded with Insurance FC sealing a comprehensive 4-1 victory, as Jonathan James tapped in the fourth goal in the 90th minute. This win propels Bendel Insurance FC up to fifth position on the NPFL table, with a total of 12 points. The team is set to face Sporting Lagos in their next match.
Barau FC's head coach, Eugene Agagbe, congratulated Insurance FC on their victory, praising their approach to the game. Agagbe acknowledged that Insurance FC played better and showed strong character, which was an improvement from their previous season. He expressed his intention to review the match and correct his team's mistakes.
Insurance FC's head coach, Kennedy Boboye, expressed satisfaction with the result but voiced concern over the early injury to central defender Dennis Chigozie. Chigozie was substituted as early as the ninth minute, which put Boboye under pressure during the game. Nevertheless, Boboye commended his players for their determination and strong response in securing a convincing victory.
The match marked a significant moment for both teams in the NPFL, with Insurance FC looking to build on their momentum and Barau FC seeking to regroup and reassess their strategy. The result reflected the competitive nature of the league and the teams' aspirations for success.
Key points
- Insurance FC won 4-1 against Barau FC.
- The victory ended Barau FC's unbeaten run.
- Insurance FC moved up to fifth position on the NPFL table.
