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Gallant Bendel Insurance bow out of CAF Confederation Cup at RS Berkane expense
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
Nigerian side, Bendel Insurance has crashed out of the 2023/2024 CAF Confederations Cup after a 1-0 loss to RS Berkane of Morocco in the return leg of the second preliminary round on Friday.
The Moroccan side had forced Insurance to a 2-2 draw in the first leg at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, Edo State capital. The first-leg result put the Benin Arsenal on a tightrope ahead of the return leg, needing at least an outright win or draw by two goals to keep their hopes alive.
After an impressive defensive display by the Nigerian side in a large part of the first half, the deadlock was finally broken in the 44th minute as Moroccan forward, Oussama Lamilioui scored the all-important goal for the hosts.
Lamilioui’s strike means RS Berkane won the tie 3-2 on aggregate to seal their passage into the group stage of the competition and put an end to Monday Odigie’s campaign on the continent this season.
The team will next focus on the 2023/2024 league campaign in a bid to return to the continent for next season.
Meanwhile, Rivers United will hope to lift Nigeria’s flag in the tournament when the club host Etoile Filante of Burkian Faso with a 0-0 draw in the first leg.
Three Nigeria clubs have crashed out of the CAF inter-club tournament this season ahead of Bendel Insurance after Enyimba FC and Remo Stars were shown the exit door in the CAF Champions League.
