By Amaechi Agbo
Bendel Insurance Football Club,on Tuesday ,May 19 defeated Katsina United Junior Team 2-1 and sailed through to the round of 32 in the ongoing 2026 President Federation Cup.
Star striker Kayode Oke proved unstoppable to the underdogs as he fired second half goals to help the 2023 Champions regained confidence and sealed a deserved 2-1 victory against the stubborn Katsina boys.
Katsina United Junior shocked the Benin Arsenals in the 36th minute of the encounter at Area 3 field in Abuja with a goal scored by Saidu Abdullahi, putting the favourites under pressure for the remaining part of the first half.
As the second half began, Insurance FC came out better as their manager Kennedy Boboye effected changes in his midfield, bringing in Emmanuel Akpan,Efe Ubiomo and Dung Emmanuel for Henry Oyian,Alex Oweifaleya and Anyanwu Promise.
Kayode Oke found the back of the net in the 60th minute to give the Benin Arsenals an equalizer. As they continued to mount pressure on their opponents. Kayode got his brace in the 86th minute and sealed victory for the former Champions.
Bendel Insurance FC won the 2023 edition of the Federation Cup after defeating Enugu Rangers 1–0 at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba on June 21,2023 and secured Nigeria’s 4th ticket for CAF tournament.
Insurance FC will return to Benin tomorrow to prepare for the last match of the outgoing season of the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL. They currently occupy the fifth position on the table of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) with 55 points and will be host to relegation threatened Remo Stars in the last fixtures of the season on Sunday, May 24.
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