BENDEL INSURANCE Football Club of Benin were yesterday forced to a 2–2 draw by RS Berkane of Morocco in the first leg second round of the CAF Confederation Cup preliminary stage in Benin City.
Insurance FC were impressive in their performance against the 2022 champions despite the stalemate in Benin.
Imade Osarenkhoe gave Insurance FC the lead in the 28th minute of the action-packed first-leg encounter at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, with a fine shot after latching on a rebound from Benjamin Tanimu’s shot on target which was too hot for goalkeeper Amine El Quaad.
The Moroccans equalised in the 39th minute of play through Hamza El Moussaoui, following a poor clearance by Bendel Insurance’s defence. Both sides went into the break with a goal apiece.
On resumption, Insurance took the battle to the gate of the visitors with substitute Vincent Augustus tapping in Imade Osarenkhoe’s perfect cross to put Insurance in front again in the 60th minute of play, sending the home fans into celebration at the 12,000 capacity-filled Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.
Augustus’ goal celebration was however muted in the 78th minute with an equalizing goal by Mohamed El Morabito for the visitors. Morabito was quick in the counterattack.
After the game, Head Coach and Technical Director of Bendel Insurance FC Monday Odigie promised to defend the pride of the club as his team continues in the battle for the group stage of the 2023/24 CAF Confederation Cup in Morocco.
Coach Odigie expressed strong optimism that a better result in Morocco is possible, saying that the performance of his team was his priority. He said, playing well against a tactically disciplined and experienced Moroccan team who won the CAF Confederation Cup last year is enough consolation.
According to him, “It is not over yet. We will go back to work. I keep telling people, that football is about participation, not always about winning at home. If you don’t play well, even in your bedroom, opponents can beat you there. I think we should appreciate the performance of our team. If we want to remain in the competition, we must go and fight for it. We are going to defend the pride of Bendel Insurance in Morocco“, he stated. 
The coach of Berkane Karma Amine in his reaction said that his boys played like men. “We did a good job and I am satisfied with the result.”
The Benin Arsenals will be guests of the Renaissance de Sportive in the second leg of the CAF competition on 29 September in Morocco, hoping to cross the last hurdles to the group stage on away soil. The team is now condemned to outright win to progress.
Eighteen-Eleven Media