By Idahosa Moses, Benin City

Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin on Wednesday evening defeated their hosts El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) MatchDay 5 by a lone goal to maintain a perfect winning start to the league.

Deputy Echeta scored the only goal of the match for the Benin Arsenals in the 27th minute after his solo effort paid off when he picked the ball from the Warriors right back near their area, rounded the goalkeeper Kehinde before burying the ball into the net.

The home team, however, rose up to the occasion in the second half of the game but the Benin Arsenals proved what they know how to do best when it comes to defending their territory.

Credit must be given to Insurance goalie Amas Obasogie whose magical gloves were alive to frustrate the efforts of the hosts.

The stand-in Captain has matured into the class of the best safe hands in the country.

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Bendel Insurance have remained invincible in group A of the abridged league which kicked off on Sunday, January 8, 2023, since they spanked 2021 champions Akwa Utd 2-0 in the league curtain raiser in Uyo.

Coach Monday Odigie led Insurance FC returned to Benin to beat former champions (2017, 2020) Plateau United 2-1 in the MatchDay 2 encounter.

The Benin-based club have become a dreaded team, giving their supporters and fans ecstatic moments and confidence when they traveled to Kwara Utd to also pick another away victory against the Continental challenger in front of their supporters and fans.

Insurance continued with the brilliant performance since the return to Nigeria’s top-flight league when they annihilated highly rated Remo Stars 3-0 in MatchDay 4 in Benin.

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The rebranded Bendel Insurance have succeeded in boosting its performance credentials with a record of five wins in five fixtures to amass 15 points and remain leaders of the Group A log.

They will return to Benin with confidence, relishing their hundred percent wins to prepare for stubborn Gombe United who will be their guests in Benin on Saturday, February 4, 2023.

The incredible performance of Bendel Insurance this season has made them become the 3rd NPFL team to win their opening five games after Kaduna United and Heartland did it in 2005 and 2015 respectively.

There was however some level of crowd disturbance at the Elkanelmi Warriors Sports Complex, Maiduguri during halftime as some angry home fans hauled stones indiscriminately and hurt Insurance FC coach Monday Odigie in the process.

Coach Odigie returned to the field for the second half with a bandage around his head after medical attention.