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By: Abiodun Adewale.
Bendel Insurance centre-back Benjamin Tanimu believes the Benin Arsenal have all it takes to progress into the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup as they await 2020 winners, RS Berkane of Morocco, in the second qualifying round of the competition, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Benin Arsenal, who won the 2023 Federation Cup, are playing on the continent for the first time in 34 years, but they face a tough test against the North Africans in the last phase of the preliminaries.
Tanimu, who has been a consistent figure in the backline of Monday Odigie’s side, however, believes that Insurance can again shock their opponents, like they did against ASO Chlef in the first round.
“The confidence is high and still growing, because we also have another chance to show the world what we are made of. The players and technical crew have been doing everything to step up from our last performance,” Tanimu told PUNCH Sports Extra.
“Nobody gave us a chance before and after our first leg against ASO Chlef but we progressed and learnt a lot of lessons. The vital part is that we need to take our chances as they come, and try not to concede at home.”
In the first preliminary round, Insurance won the first leg 1-0 against ASO Chlef in Benin before goalkeeper Amas Obasogie penalty heroics in the second leg to ensure Insurance progressed.
Insurance host the first leg against Berkane in Benin on Saturday, while the return leg follows a week later in Morocco.