Bendel Insurance not invincible, says Sunshine Stars FC Coach

Posted : 27 May 2023

Both teams, Bendel Insurance FC and Sunshine Stars FC of Akure both qualified for the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) Super 6, but this time around, it will be a knockout stage for them in the 2023 Federation Cup Quarter-Final.

While football pundits in Nigeria are already analysing the yet to be played quarter final tie between Sunshine Stars FC and Bendel Insurance in the Quarter final stage of the oldest football league cup in Nigeria, the FA cup, it is not certain who will come victorious.

Bendel insurance won the FA cup the first time in 1972 defeating Mighty Jets 3-2 on penalties.

They did it again in 1978 and 1980 defeating Enugu Rangers 3-0 and Stationary stores 1-0 in 1980.

It's on record that the Benin-based side also lost two finals in 1981 and 2006, while the trophy has eluded Sunshine Stars FC since the establishment of the team in 1995.

Sunshine Stars however won't forget in a hurry the 3-1 defeat in the hands of Akwa United in the semi finals of the Aiteo cup, the result that landed Akwa United in the finals in October 2017.

Sunshine Stars FC so far in the FA cup, recorded wins over FC Basira of Nasarawa, Standard FC of Kaduna, and EFCC FC of Abuja thus qualifying for the quarter final tie against yet-to-be-beaten Bendel Insurance of Benin.

The last time these two sides met was May 20, 2019 in the Elite league with Insurance of Benin winning by a lone goal in Benin while the previous tie at the Akure township stadium ended 1-1.

The biggest Sunshine Stars score against Bendel Insurance remains a 1-1 draw on February 14, 2019 while Bendel Insurance's biggest score was the 1-0 win of May 20, 2019.

Sunshine Stars FC won 3 of their last five league matches losing 2 against Bayelsa United and Rivers United, thereby picking up maximum points against Lobi Stars, Niger Tornadoes and FC Dakkada with a recent 3-2 win over FC EFCC in the FA cup.

Bendel Insurance in the other hand won 3 of their last 6 matches in the league and the FA cup.

A win over El kanemi Warriors', Heartland FC and three draws against shooting stars, Gombe United and Nasarawa United.

Coach Monday Odigie of Bendel Insurance in a pre-match warned his players against complacency saying the match against Sunshine Stars is as important as a league cup final.

Edith Agoye who surprisingly qualifed Sunshine Stars FC to the super 6 playoffs in Lagos believed that the Benin-based team is a good side that is beatable.

"No doubt the quarter final cracker in Awka on Sunday is a tie everyone is looking forward to," he said.

Player to watch: Bendel insurance
Imade Osarenkhoe
Player to watch: Sunshine Stars
David Onovo

Bendel Insurance not invincible, says Sunshine Stars FC Coach

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