Insurance Football Club of Benin on Saturday maintained their hold on the second position in Group B1 of the 2021/2022 Nigeria National League by beating Giant Brillars FC.

They beat their Enugu-based visitors 2-1 to move to 21 points, one point behind table-toppers Gateway United.

A first-half stoppage-time penalty kick by Tanimu Benjamin and an own goal in the 67th minute ensured Bendel Insurance picked the maximum points.

Idoko Mathew reduced the tally for the visitors in the 86th minute with a shot from the edge of the penalty box.

Giant Brillars FC handler, Suleman Hafeez, later stated that Insurance FC deserved to be in the Premiership.

“We lost against a team who should be in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). It is that simple.

“Their style of play is superior, and their organisation is standard. Even when you want to complain about a referee’s decision, you instantly watch the replay on the big screen here and you calm down.

“We want to win when we go for away matches, but today (Saturday) we lost to a better team. So, we will go back to re-strategise.”

On his part, the assistant coach of Insurance FC, Stanley Osaze, said: “We are still on course to gain promotion and we have done well so far.

“The first half of the season is coming to an end and there are lots of matches to play in the second half.

“Going by the way we have played so far, we have just lost one game. So, we will meet our target.

“This match was a tough one, our opponents are not a pushover. Where they are on the League table is an indication.

“we really had to fight hard to get those goals and we will continue doing our best to win.”

(NAN)