Bendel Insurance’s unbeaten run in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) this season came to an end after a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Rivers United on Friday, www.aclsports.com reports.
1️⃣ – Bendel Insurance have lost in the #NPFL for the first time since 2019 – an unbeaten run of 21 games (W8 D13) comes to an end. Halt. #RIVBEN #NPFL23ChampionshipPlayoff pic.twitter.com/oz3D1siExj
— Engineer Kowope (@Undisputed_Jsam) June 9, 2023
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The Benin Arsenals ended the regular season unbeaten and started the NPFL Championship Playoffs with a series of draws before losing out to the defending champions at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Onikan, Lagos.
Midfielder Morice Chukwu fired the champions into the lead on the stroke of halftime. After a Wednesday of draws, Joseph Onoja made sure there will be no repeat of that as he doubled the Champions’ lead in the 90th minute before Divine Nwachukwu marked his Super Eagles call-up with a late goal for Insurance.
Finally, a W! #NPFL23Super6 | #WeAreRemoStars pic.twitter.com/oWKVHtpHmw
— Remo Stars Sports Club (@RemoStarsSC) June 9, 2023
In the day’s second game, Remo Stars made light work of Lobi Stars in a composed first half display. Junior Lokosa finished off a teasing cross from Sadiq Ismail in the 17th minute before Adams Olamilekan curled one home from inside the area less than ten minutes later.
Lobi Stars barely made any threat towards Kayode Bankole’s goal as the Ikenne side managed to keep their first clean sheet of the playoffs.
Big win for Enyimba over Sunshine Stars (3-0)#SUNENY #NPFL23Super6 pic.twitter.com/7pgiOXxVB2
— NPFL (@NigeriaPFL) June 9, 2023
2019 NPFL Champions Enyimba showed their class once again as they comfortably beat Sunshine Stars 3-0 in the night fixture.
Having seen how the first two games went, the People’s Elephant came out gun blazing in the first half and their efforts were rewarded with two quick goals.
Chijioke Mbaoma, who started in place of top scorer Emeka Obioma, set the ball rolling with a fine finish in the third minute before completing his brace just three minutes later.
After the break, Ikenna Cooper made the points secured just after the hour mark. Enyimba barely left gear one and easily dispatched the Akure side, who were underwhelming in the game.
Match day four produced three wins to take the tournaments tally to five as the final match day beckons.
Enyimba and Rivers United will face off in the title decider, while Remo Stars could seal a sensational return to the continent by not losing by a three-goal margin against Bendel Insurance.
