2024/2025 NPFL Match Day 19: Coach Greg Ikhenoba leads Bendel Insurance out of red zone

Posted : 02 January 2025

Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin, on New Year's Eve 2025, put up an impressive performance against former CAF Champions League winners Enyimba FC, forcing a goalless stalemate against the People's Elephants in Aba to end the first round of the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League on a positive note.

The Benin Arsenals started the 2024/2025 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Match Day 19 game on a strong footing, looking comfortable and confident against the hosts, the People's Elephants, who appeared heavy and unconvincing.

Vincent Okeke, who started in attack in place of Kayode Oke, who picked up a knee injury during the warm-up session, became a thorn in the side of the People's Elephants. The pacy striker kept penetrating the area but wasted several scoring chances that could have brought down the Elephants in the first half of the game.

The former champions, Enyimba FC, on the other hand, stepped up their game in the second half after their new manager, Stanley Eguma, made some changes. They continued to mount pressure on the Benin Arsenals, but goalkeeper Joshua Baba and the defensive line, led by Stanley Okorom and Julius Emiloju, were solid enough to absorb the pressure from the Elephants, forcing the game into a goalless stalemate.

Meanwhile, the confidence that the management of Bendel Insurance FC has had in their stand-in Head Coach, Greg Ikhenoba, since the resignation of former Technical Director Coach Monday Odigie, is already yielding fruits as he has successfully guided the Benin Arsenals out of the red zone in the league standings.

Coach Greg Ikhenoba began the push for the safety of Bendel Insurance in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) immediately after the resignation of his former boss on November 17 in Enugu, following their 3-2 loss to the Flying Antelopes at the Cathedral, with a convincing triumph over Kwara Utd.

The Benin Arsenals started gaining stability and recovery under Coach Greg Ikhenoba, with a convincing 3-1 victory over Kwara Utd in Match Day 13 in Benin.

The team narrowly lost 2-1 to Nasarawa Utd on Match Day 14 in Lafia before a 2-1 victory over Plateau Utd in Week 15 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

Coach Ikhenoba led the team to two consecutive 1-1 draws with Akwa Utd and Heartland FC in a double away fixture, followed by a 1-0 victory over Lobi Stars in Week 18 in Benin on Saturday, December 21.

Insurance FC wrapped up the NPFL first round with a 0-0 draw with Enyimba FC in a difficult terrain.

In the post-match interview, Head Coach of Bendel Insurance Greg Ikhenoba expressed confidence that Bendel Insurance FC will come back strong in the second round of the league.

On his team's performance in Aba, he noted that Enyimba and other big teams in the league are beatable.

He said that the away point was important and has helped the team to the safe zone.

"Our problem actually started with the 1-0 loss to Kano Pillars in Benin, plus the deducted 3-point punishment that followed."

"I am happy now that we ended the year well. We were capable of getting the maximum points against Enyimba, but we wasted a lot of chances before our opponents recovered in the second half."

"They also wasted chances and were also unlucky. That is the game of football: if you don't convert your chances when they come, it becomes difficult."

"So, we are going back home happy with the point and to begin preparation for the second round," he said.

2024/2025 NPFL Match Day 19: Coach Greg Ikhenoba leads Bendel Insurance out of red zone

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