Bendel Insurance of Benin held Barau FC of Kano to a 1-1 draw on Sunday in their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 3 clash at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano.
Insurance struck first in the 9th minute when Alex Oweiyelefa calmly converted from close range. Barau, however, restored parity just before halftime, with Ibrahim Yahaya dribbling past two defenders before firing past the goalkeeper to make it 1-1 in the 45th minute.
The draw leaves Barau FC with two points from their opening three games of the season.
Speaking after the match, Barau Head Coach, Ladan Bosso, expressed disappointment over his team’s missed chances.
“We dominated large spells of the game, but poor finishing denied us the win. Converting opportunities is something we must improve on,” Bosso said.
He added that many NPFL sides were struggling to find consistent goal scorers, but assured that his team would continue to work on sharpening their attack.
“This isn’t the result we wanted, but hope is not lost. Some players joined us late and are still blending into the squad. With time, we will be stronger,” he explained.
Bendel Insurance Coach, Greg Ikhenoba, praised his players for their composure and discipline in earning a point on the road.
“We knew it would be a difficult match in Kano, but the boys stayed focused. An away point is a positive result, and we will build on this performance,” Ikhenoba said.