The Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin on Sunday confirmed a place in the Nigeria National League (NNL)Super 8 tournament after playing to a goalless draw at Joy Cometh FC in Lagos.
The Benin Arsenal approached the game with the confidence to get away win in Lagos against relegation-threatened Joy Cometh they defeated 3-1 in their first encounter in Benin at the beginning of the season, but that feat was not achieved as the home team gave a good account of themselves to avoid humiliation.
The 10-man Insurance was unlucky to score after creating several scoring chances they failed to convert, with Saraki Ismael who was later shown red, Elijah Simon, and Ojo Tolulope culpable.
Insurance FC who await NNL new date for their week 20 fixture at J.Atete FC now has 38 points to secure the Group B2 slot along with Remo Stars. A win at Atete could make Insurance FC top finishers ahead of Remo Stars in the Group B2 table.
The Benin Arsenal were scheduled to return to Utujeremi to honour the J.Atete fixture on Thursday, August 26 by the NNL only for the same football body to send another letter putting the game on hold on match day when the two teams were already set to play.
Gateway FC are the closest to Insurance, with 34 points and the outcome of their game against Joy Cometh on September first will be of no effect on Insurance ticket to the super 8 tournament which determines the promotion of four of the last eight teams to the country’s premier league; NPFL.
The season-ending Super Eight (8) of the Nigeria National League (NNL), will be staged at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, Enugu State in Southeastern Nigeria according to a statement released by the NNL media office shortly after Joy Cometh and Insurance goalless draw at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos State.
The qualified clubs for the super 8 include: Gombe United FC, El-Kanemi Warriors FC of Maiduguri, Niger Tornadoes FC, DMD FC of Borno, Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) of Ibadan, Ekiti United, Remo Stars and Bendel Insurance FC of Benin and they are expected to arrive in the coal city on Sunday 5th while action begins on the 7th, September 2021.
By Ben Ogbemudia
