•Pillars hold Lobi, Oriental Derby goalless
Bendel Insurance began life after the resignation of long-serving coach Monday Odigie on a high note, defeating Kwara United 3-1 at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium to end their winless streak in the Nigeria Premier Football League.
The Benin Arsenal, playing behind closed doors due to a league sanction, put on an inspired performance under interim management, displaying the resilience that characterised their historic 21-game unbeaten run earlier in the year.
The victory comes as a much-needed boost for the club, who had struggled with just three wins in their previous 12 matches this season.
Meanwhile, Kano Pillars staged a remarkable comeback to draw 2-2 against hosts Lobi Stars in Makurdi. Veteran midfielder Rabiu Ali pulled one back for Pillars in the 76th minute with his seventh goal of the season, before Mustapha Umar completed the fightback two minutes later.
The result sees Pillars remain sixth on the log with 19 points, while Lobi Stars momentarily climbed out of the relegation zone, pending other results.
In the early kick-off, El Kanemi Warriors edged out Akwa United with a 1-0 victory in Maiduguri, a result that temporarily moves them to third place in the standings.
The highly anticipated Oriental Derby between Heartland FC and Enugu Rangers ended in a drab goalless draw in Owerri, as neither side could find the cutting edge to secure all three points.
Similarly, Niger Tornadoes and Ikorodu City played out a stalemate in Minna, leaving both teams with a point each.
Bendel Insurance’s return to form comes amid a turbulent period following the exit of Odigie, who resigned after their 3-2 loss to Rangers last week. His decision was reportedly influenced by a poor run of results and the team’s struggles at the bottom of the table.
Odigie’s tenure was marked by significant achievements, including leading Insurance to their first continental title in 43 years and an unbeaten league campaign in 2023.
As Insurance look to rebuild, they face another test next week against Nasarawa United in Lafia, while the pressure remains on the league’s other strugglers to find form as the season progresses.