Bendel Insurance of Benin on brink of NPFL return after 10 years

Bendel Insurance return to Nigeria’s topflight after 10 years in the lower division

One of the founding clubs of professional football league in Nigeria Bendel Insurance are on the verge of gaining promotion to the country’s topflight league after playing in the lower division for 10 years.

The Benin-based side took charge of the Nigeria National League (NNL) Group B1 after battling from a goal down to overcome Shooting Stars 2-1 in Benin.
The match was abandoned on Sunday due to poor visibility caused by rainfall.

The visitors went in front in the third minute through Isiaka Mutiu, before the game was stopped.

But in the continuation on Monday, the home side equalised in the 56th minute through Kabiru Abdulahi.

Charles Omokaro then converted a penalty in stoppage time, after a Shooting Stars player was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area.

Insurance, by virtue of this result, lead Group B1 on 29 points with one game in hand, against Spartans.

The Edo club were relegated at the end of the 2007–08 season after finishing on the floor of the table.