NPFL24: Bendel Insurance First Away Win Possible Against Enyimba - Tanimu

NPFL24: Bendel Insurance First Away Win Possible Against Enyimba - Tanimu

Precious Oham

Defensive warlord for Bendel Insurance, Benjamin Tanimu has expressed optimism that his team can record their first away victory in a rescheduled MatchDay 1 Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, fixture against Enyimba Int'l in Aba, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

The Matchday One fixture was earlier postponed due to an Insurance continental engagement in Morocco with RS Berkane in the 2023/24 CAF Confederation Cup second-round preliminary game.

Their defense-strong man said that though they have big respect for the former two-time CAF champions and league defending champions, they are ready for the big battle, adding that Insurance first away win is possible in Aba. 

The Benin Arsenals, coming from a 2-2 home draw with Kwara Utd, arrived in the eastern commercial city of Aba on Sunday night, beating the Monday sit-at-home trap to settle down after the hard-fought draw on Saturday.

Insurance has recorded three straight draws from their last three fixtures, two in the north against Doma Utd (0-0) and Niger Tornadoes (0-0) before the Matchday nine 2-2 draw with Kwara Utd in Benin. 

With the return of their number one goalkeeper Amas Obasogie from the national team, the Super Eagles who were on duty for the country in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Lesotho and Zimbabwe last week, Insurance FC who are no doubt, hungry for victory are better prepared for the People's Elephants.

Clashes between the two football giants have always been difficult and fierce. They both met thrice last season with the Benin Arsenals having the better results. Insurance defeated the People's Elephants 1-0 in Benin in the first leg pulled a 1-1 draw in Aba in the revised fixture and later got another 0-0 draw result at the Super Six in Lagos.

The NPFL defending champions have not found Insurance easy to beat home or away in the recent past. In 2019 when Insurance gained promotion to the topflight division after 11 years in the second division, both sides met twice in the Abridged League and the two encounters ended in barren draws. 

The Benin Arsenals currently occupy 6th position on the table with 13 points and a win in Aba could take them to the second position.