Bendel Insurance’s quest to make it into the CAF Confederation Cup group stage continued as they played out a 2-2 draw with Moroccan side Berkanein the first leg of the final round of the qualifiers at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium on Saturday.
The Benin City side made it to this round by seeing off Algerian side ASO Chlef in the previous round on penalties after it ended 1-1 on aggregate. Going up against another North African side that is a two-time Confederation Cup champion, one of the triumphs coming a just last year, was not going to be an easy task.
They however took the lead in home soil courtesy of star forward Imade Osarenkhoe in the 28th minute before Berkane leveled things up three minutes to the halftime break through Moroccan forward Oussama Lamlioui.
Insurance reestablished their lead on the hour mark via Paul Obata but Berkane equalised on the second occasion, this time from Mohamed El Morabit.
Full Time!
Not the way we wanted it, but we live to fight another day.
Bendel Insurance 2-2 RS Berkane.#CAFCC#BINRSB pic.twitter.com/kkpFDIY0qD
— Bendel Insurance FC Official (@BendelInsurance) September 16, 2023
The result gives Berkane the advantage with two away goals heading into the second leg in Morocco in a fortnight.
