Sunshine Stars 1-2 Bendel Insurance: Anthony Nnamdi fires Benin Arsenals back to winning ways in Ijebu
(Ijebu Ode – Made In Africa Sport) Bendel Insurance led twice to defeat Sunshine Stars 2-1 in their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) matchday 10 encounter at the Dipo Dina International Stadium on Sunday, 3 November 2024.
Both teams came into the game hoping to bounce back from matchday 9 disappointments that saw Sunshine Stars lose 3-0 to Plateau United in Jos and Abia Warriors beat Bendel Insurance 1-0 at home in Benin.
The Owena Whales started brightly, but it was Monday Odigie’s boys who got the first goal through Kayode Oke in the 15th minute.
Chances came aplenty for the home side, but they couldn’t convert as Joshua Baba stood tall in goal to deny all opportunities.
Meyiwa Orisemeyinwa almost doubled Insurance’s lead in the 36th minute after a solo effort but put it narrowly wide.
The hosts finally found solace on the stroke of half-time when Sodiq Ibrahim drove through one-on-one from halfway and slotted the ball under Baba to bring Sunshine level.
The second half started with the same tempo, with Kennedy Boboye aiming to guide his boys to a first league win over Insurance in 16 years.
But it was Anthony Nnamdi who put the Benin Arsenals in front again on the hour mark after he dazzled past a Sunshine player, and his shot was deflected in, unfortunately for the defenders.
The goal was the match-winner for Insurance, earning them their first away win in the NPFL since February 2023.
The victory moved them to 11th on the table with 12 points, one point and one position behind Sunshine Stars, who sit 10th with 13 points.
Remo Stars overtake Rivers Utd to go 🔝#NPFL25 pic.twitter.com/PeCPPryyOD
— NPFL (@NigeriaPFL) November 3, 2024
Matchday 10 Review
In results from other centres, the biggest shock of the day came from Lagos, where 19th-placed Ikorodu City shocked league leaders Rivers United, handing them their first defeat of the season at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, courtesy of second-half goals from Ayomide Cole and Rivio Ayemwenre.
Micheal Ibe and Mustapha Yuga were the sole goalscorers against Lobi Stars and Katsina United for Remo Stars and El-Kanemi Warriors, respectively. The former moved to the top of the table on superior goal difference, while the latter closed the gap to Enyimba in the top four and now remain the only team yet to taste defeat in the NPFL this season.
Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa scored a 92nd-minute winner for Kano Pillars as they came from behind to defeat a resilient Plateau United. Saka Gafar had headed the visitors in front from Vincent Temitope’s corner kick in the 66th minute, but Rabiu Ali levelled with a direct free kick 10 minutes later.
Emmanuel Ogbole’s goal was not enough for Kwara United against Akwa United, as the Harmony Warriors fell to a 2-1 defeat in Uyo through goals from Chijioke Alaekwe and a 66th-minute penalty from Endurance Ebedebiri.
The weekend’s only draw came from Yenagoa, where hosts Bayelsa United fought tooth and nail to earn a point against Enyimba. The Restoration Boys fell behind in the 29th minute when Ekene Awazie finished off a Daniel Daga counter but got back on level terms when Wisdom Magbisa’s free kick was deflected in as an own goal.
Defending champions Rangers International returned to winning ways in Enugu after a streak of four winless games, courtesy of a brace from their reliable talisman, Godwin Obaje.
To cap a weekend of many firsts, Niger Tornadoes recorded their first home win of the season, defeating Shooting Stars 2-0 in Minna, while Heartland won their first away game with the same scoreline against Abia Warriors in the Oriental derby at the Umuahia Township Stadium.
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28 to go #NPFL25 pic.twitter.com/0hjx5QCcaW
— NPFL (@NigeriaPFL) November 3, 2024
