BENDEL INSURANCE SET SIGHTS ON NPFL GLORY AFTER 47-YEAR WAIT

Bendel Insurance chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, has expressed confidence that the Benin Arsenals can challenge for the Nigeria Premier Football League title in the 2026/27 season, with the club aiming to end a 47-year wait for the championship.

Insurance will begin its new NPFL campaign on Sunday, August 30, when it hosts newly promoted Warri Wolves at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, with the match scheduled for 4 p.m.

The Benin-based club has won the top-flight league twice, in 1973 and 1979, but has not lifted the title since then. Insurance finished fifth in each of the last two seasons and narrowly missed out on continental qualification last term.

Tenebe believes the club's improved recruitment, pre-season preparations and player incentives have put the team in a stronger position to compete for the championship this season.

The chairman recalled that scoring goals was one of the team's major problems when he took charge last season. He subsequently introduced financial rewards for players whenever they found the net, a strategy he believes contributed to the team's improved performances.

According to Tenebe, the incentive system helped motivate the players and played a role in Insurance's strong finish to last season. Although the club missed out on continental football, he said the experience provided valuable lessons ahead of the new campaign.

He expressed satisfaction with the preparations made for the 2026/27 season, insisting that the club has the quality and determination required to compete at the top end of the NPFL.

Insurance's title ambition comes as football enthusiasm continues to grow in Edo State, with Edo Queens also making progress in the CAF Women's Champions League WAFU B qualifiers in Burkina Faso.

Edo Queens recently defeated ASEC Mimosas of Côte d'Ivoire 3-1, boosting their hopes of advancing in the continental competition.

For Bendel Insurance, however, attention is now firmly on the NPFL, where the club hopes its strengthened squad and improved preparations can finally deliver a third league title and end one of the longest championship droughts in Nigerian top-flight football.