Imade Osarenkhoe was the difference as Bendel Insurance recorded a narrow 1-0 home win over Algerian outfit ASO Chlef in the first round of the CAF Confederation Cup qualifiers on Saturday.
The Benin City outfit made it into the African second-tier cup competition after winning last season’s Federation Cup by defeating Enugu Rangers 1-0.
It mark their return to continental football since a 1-0 home loss to King Faisal Babes of Ghana during the 2005 Confederation Cup.
1️⃣8️⃣ – Bendel Insurance return to the continent for the first time in over 18 years (spanning 6691 days). Their last encounter was a 1-0 home defeat to King Faisal Babes in April 2005. Rebound. #CAFCC pic.twitter.com/ypCwdohvHt
— Opta Nigeria (@OptaNGR) August 19, 2023
Insurance needed to make home advantage count if they were going to have any hopes or making it into the next phase of the Confederation Cup qualifiers which they did thanks to Osarenkhoe’s first half strike.
The talented forward scored eight goals last season to finish as his team’s top marksman and was instrumental in leading them into the NPFL playoffs where they finished bottom out of six teams.
Monday Odigie’s side will now turn their attention to the return leg in Algeria next weekend where they will hope to finish the job.
