Bendel Insurance Football Club, weekend, defeated Niger Tornadoes 1-0 to record their first victory in the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League.
The Benin Arsenals broke the deadluck in the 3rd minute of the 6 extra minutes after 90 minutes of the game courtesy of substitute Emmanuel Israel’s header off a throw-in by Henry Oyian the long throw specialist.
Bendel Insurance have been in search of maximum points after three matches since the league kickoff. They got relieved when Israel Emmanuel headed home the only goal of the match as time drifted away with three minutes to full time whistle.
Both sides started the game with high intensity and gave their all in the breathtaking encounter as the visiting Tornadoes did everything to neutralize Insurance firing power but the host team were rewarded for their hard work as they saved the best for the last.
The Benin Arsenals drew their first home match 1-1 with Shooting Stars two weekend ago after coming from behind to level up courtesy of Alex Oweilayefa’s header in the 13th minute of play.
Insurance also secured another 1-1 victory against Barau FC in Kano last week. They lost their first match of the season 2-0 to Elkanemi Warriors in far away Maiduguri on Sunday,August 24,2025.
The Benin Arsenals will be guests to the People’s Elephant Enyimba FC on Sunday next week in Aba
Speaking during the post match interview, the Head coach of Bendel Insurance coach Greg Ikhenoba praised his players for their resilience.
“We knew Tornadoes would be tough to break down, but the boys stayed focused and played to my instructions. Kudos to the boys they fought a good fight.”
Coach Ikhenoba also expressed gratitude to Edo State government,the Edo Sports Commission chairman Hon Amadin Desmond Enabulele and all stakeholders for their support, stressing that the journey has just begun for his side. ” like I have said, this team is work in progress. As we continue to play together and get to understand each other, the goals will start coming and everybody will be happy.
“I appreciate everybody for their support—the club chairman, the Edo State Sports Commission chairman, the Edo State Government, and most importantly, our fans. The team is still a work in progress, and we need the support of everybody.”
On the other hand, Tornadoes coach Mohammed Majin expressed delight in his players’ effort but admitted that the last minute loss of concentration proved costly:
“I want to appreciate the players’ effort—they did their best, but at the end of the day, they succumbed. That’s football. You win some, you lose some, and until the final whistle, it is not over. Maybe the players thought the game was finished when it was in extra time but until the referee blew the final whistle, it is not over. That was how we conceded that goal in the dying minute.”
On the argument about his platers had engaged in time-wasting tactics,Majin defended his players, saying that they are the ones in the battle field and when they get hurt they are the ones that feel it and that spectators don’t know the degree.
“We don’t go into any game with the mindset of playing for a draw—we always play for outright victory. You can’t call it time-wasting when a player is genuinely in pain. You are not on the pitch to know what they are going through.” He noted.
NPFL26: Bendel Insurance FC edge Niger Tornadoes 1-0 to Secure First Victory
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