Boboye says Bendel Insurance were punished for poor first half in Abia Warriors defeat

Bendel Insurance head coach Kennedy Boboye said his side’s failure to match the intensity of their match against Abia Warriors in the first half led to their 3-0 defeat on Sunday.

Chukwuemeka Obioma scored twice for the hosts, with Etta Ikoi completing the victory.

“We played badly in the first half and were punished,” Boboye said after the game.

“That’s football for you. When you don’t meet the standard, your opponent punishes you.”

The result continued a difficult start to the season on the road for Bendel Insurance, who have now lost all three of their away matches.

Boboye, who has previously managed Sunshine Stars, Heartland, Akwa United and Plateau United, accepted that the record was not good enough for a side hoping to challenge for the title.

Former Abia Warriors players started

Bendel Insurance included three players who previously represented Abia Warriors in their starting line-up: Fatai Abdullahi, Suraj Lawal and Adekunle Adeleke.

The trio joined the Benin-based club before the start of the season, but Boboye said their selection was based on their regular involvement for Insurance rather than the fact they were facing their former team.

“They have been starting every game here at Bendel Insurance since they joined us,” he said.

“This isn’t their first time and this is not an exception. It’s just that we’re unlucky to have conceded cheap goals in the first half.”

The coach said the defeat would prompt his team to prepare differently for their next match, a home fixture against Barau FC.

“We’ll go back and restrategise for our next game against Barau FC,” Boboye added.

Bendel Insurance now need to improve their away performances if they are to remain among the leading teams in the NPFL and sustain their title challenge.

“Obviously, it’s going to be a must-win game for us if we must stay among the top sides on the log and contest for the title,” Boboye said.

“We can’t think of winning the league and continue losing games like this.”

He also stressed that title contenders must collect points away from home instead of relying solely on their home form.

“This is the third game we’ve lost away from home. If you want to be a champion, you must make sure you get something (points) from away games and not depend on home games alone.”