Bendel Insurance at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on Saturday pipped ASO Chlef of Algeria to a 1-0 victory in an entertaining CAF Confederation Cup preliminary round encounter, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The first half was largely dominated by the Benin Arsenal with Imade Osarenkhoe scoring opportunity adjudged to be offside and the Algerian side came close to scoring in the 37th minutes.
With five minutes to the end of the game at halftime, the Algerian defense hacked down Imade a few meters away from box 18.
The resulting in-swinger from Stanley Okorom saw Imade opened the scoring for the Benin Arsenals in the 42nd minute with a diving header, breaking his goal drought from last season, and sending the home fans into ecstasy.
Both teams had a go at it in the second half but Monday Odigie’s team just as their opposition lacked the cutting edge.
Abdelkader Yaiche’s side will need to score two goals without conceding in the second leg to seal a place in the next round.
The reverse fixture will hold next weekend at the Mohamed Boumezrag Stadium.
The winner of both legs will face RSB Berkane 2022 CAF Confederation Cup and CAF Super Cup winners in the second qualifying round.
By Olujimi Dare Ogun