2026/2027 NPFL Match Day 1: Bendel Insurance Begin Season Against Warri Wolves

Posted : 29 August 2026

Bendel Insurance FC of Benin will begin their 2026/27 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) campaign on Sunday when they host Warri Wolves at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.

The opening-day fixture brings together two proud clubs with rich footballing histories and promises to be a fiercely contested Bendel Derby. The Benin Arsenal will be expected to rely on home advantage and the passionate support of their fans.

Kick-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.

Bendel Insurance will be looking to build on their fifth-place finish last season as they pursue a stronger campaign this time around, with the club's management setting its sights on the NPFL title.

Speaking ahead of the encounter, Insurance technical manager Kennedy Boboye said his team was in good shape and ready for the challenges of the new season.

Boboye, however, said he was not under pressure despite management's demand for the league title, insisting that the team would approach the campaign one match at a time.

The Benin Arsenal will also welcome the return of their supporters to the stands after serving a three-match stadium ban that forced them to play behind closed doors.

A packed Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium is expected to create an electric atmosphere, with the home fans set to provide the noise, chants and encouragement needed to inspire their team in the season opener.

Bendel Insurance chairman Jarrett Tenebe has made the club's ambition clear, saying management wants a significantly improved campaign, preferably culminating in the NPFL title.

Tenebe said the club had been deliberate in strengthening the squad and investing in quality players capable of competing with the best teams in the league.

He assured Edo football stakeholders and supporters that they should expect an exciting brand of football from the team this season.

The chairman also appealed to residents of Benin City and supporters across Edo State to turn out in large numbers to cheer Bendel Insurance in Sunday's derby against Warri Wolves.

Insurance, however, may have to navigate the opening weeks of the campaign without Boboye on the touchline.

The experienced coach is currently in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, where he is leading reigning Nigeria Women Football League champions Edo Queens at the WAFU B CAF Women's Champions League qualifiers on an interim basis.

His absence is expected to affect Insurance's opening fixtures, with his assistants likely to take charge of the team until his return.

For Warri Wolves, the derby presents an early opportunity to make a statement against one of the league's established sides.

The visitors will be determined to frustrate their hosts and begin the new season on a positive note, setting the stage for an intriguing battle when the two sides meet at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

2026/2027 NPFL Match Day 1: Bendel Insurance Begin Season Against Warri Wolves

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